law of thermodynamics

1. (physics) a law governing the relations between states of energy in a closed system (synset 105891400)
   referred to in: natural philosophy, physics - the science of matter and energy and their interactions
   is a type of: law, law of nature - a generalization that describes recurring facts or events in nature
   subtypes:

   • second law of thermodynamics - a law stating that mechanical work can be derived from a body only when that body interacts with another at a lower temperature; any spontaneous process results in an increase of entropy
   • third law of thermodynamics - law stating that the entropy of a substance approaches zero as its temperature approaches absolute zero
   • zeroth law of thermodynamics - the law that if two bodies are in thermal equilibrium with a third body then the first two bodies are in thermal equilibrium with each other
   • conservation of energy, first law of thermodynamics, law of conservation of energy - the fundamental principle of physics that the total energy of an isolated system is constant despite internal changes

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