Heat and Thermodynamics: Introduction

HEAT AND TEMPERATURE

Introduction

Temperature and heat play very important role in everyday life. All species can function properly only if its body is maintained at a particular temperature. In fact life on Earth is possible because the Sun maintains its temperature. Understanding the meaning of temperature and heat are very crucial to understand the nature. Thermodynamics is a branch of physics which explains the phenomena of temperature, heat etc. The concepts presented in this chapter will help us to understand the terms ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ and also differentiate heat from temperature. In thermodynamics, heat and temperature are two different but closely related parameters.