Thermodynamic spontaneity—whether a reaction can go—can be measured by changes in either of two parameters: entropy or free energy.

Though a cornerstone of thermodynamics, entropy remains one of the most vexing concepts to teach budding physicists in the classroom. Physics teachers designed a hand-held model to demonstrate the ...

Physicists have spent a century trying to reconcile the smooth fabric of spacetime in general relativity with the jittery ...

One of the enormous conceptual ideas that came along with Einstein's theory of relativity was the surprise that time itself, long considered fundamental and universal, is actually relative. Different ...

The second law of thermodynamics says, in simple terms, entropy always increases. This principle explains, for example, why you can't unscramble an egg. When you purchase through links on our site, we ...

How it works When laser light passes through a cavity filled with atoms, part of it can do useful work. In this example the work is charging a quantum battery (top). The rest of the light turns into ...

According to the third law of thermodynamics, the entropy of a perfect crystal is zero when the temperature of the crystal is equal to absolute zero (0 kelvin). When you purchase through links on our ...

The Laws of Thermodynamics are the foundation of heat transfer and energy work. When any engineer is designing or implementing a system, the consideration of heat loss or energy produced is influenced ...