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Assignment No.3 Thermo

The zeroth law of thermodynamics states that if two systems are each in thermal equilibrium with a third system, then they are in thermal equilibrium with each other. For example, if we place a thermometer in a cup of boiling water, allowing it to reach thermal equilibrium at 100°C, and then place the same thermometer in a second cup of boiling water, where it again reads 100°C, we can conclude by the zeroth law that the two cups of water are in thermal equilibrium with each other at the same temperature, despite not being in direct contact. This enables the use of thermometers to indirectly compare the temperatures of different objects or systems.

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127 views3 pages

Assignment No.3 Thermo

The zeroth law of thermodynamics states that if two systems are each in thermal equilibrium with a third system, then they are in thermal equilibrium with each other. For example, if we place a thermometer in a cup of boiling water, allowing it to reach thermal equilibrium at 100°C, and then place the same thermometer in a second cup of boiling water, where it again reads 100°C, we can conclude by the zeroth law that the two cups of water are in thermal equilibrium with each other at the same temperature, despite not being in direct contact. This enables the use of thermometers to indirectly compare the temperatures of different objects or systems.

Uploaded by

keempee meera
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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consider two separate cups of boiling water.

If we place a thermometer into the first


cup, it gets warmed up by the water until it reads 100°C. We now say that the
thermometer is in thermal equilibrium with the first cup of water. Next, we move the
thermometer into the second cup of boiling water, and it continues to read 100°C. The
thermometer is therefore also in thermal equilibrium with the second cup of water.
Using the logic of the zeroth law, we can conclude that the two separate cups of
boiling water are in thermal equilibrium with each other. The zeroth law therefore
enables us to use thermometers to compare the temperatures of any objects we like.

Why call this the "zeroth" law you may ask? The truth is that the other
thermodynamic laws (the first, second, and third) had already been named by the time
this one was formulated. However, scientists thought that it was so important that it
should go before all the others, and hence it was termed the zeroth law.

It states that if Object A and Object C is in thermal equilibrium (it means that both
are at the same temperature or there is no energy transfer between these two blocks in the
form of heat), and also If Object B and Object C is in Thermal Equilibrium with
each other, then Object A and Object B will also be in Thermal Equilibrium
with each other.

Now In the given figure shown above Object C is taken to be Thermometer. If the Mercury
rise in the thermometer is same after coming in contact with both the Object ( A and B ) for
a reasonable time, then we can conclude that both the object (A and B) are at the same
temperature without bringing them physically in contact with each other.

Now you must be thinking that what is the use of this law in practical domain, the answer of
this question is as follow.

Let us assume that the Object A which is very “Heavy and Large” that cannot be transported
from one place to other very easily. Same is the Case with Object B.

Let’s say Object A is in “India” and Object B is in “columbia” and we want some Information
about the the temperature of both Object A and Object B. What will you do ?

Here comes the Body C (Assume it to be mercury Thermometer). In both these country
Body C is available. We measured the Height of Mercury Column in India after contacting it
with Object A and also measured the same in columbia after Contacting it with Object B. At
both these places the Height of Mercury Comes out to be same.

Therefore without bringing in contact physically the Object A and Object B we can easily
conclude that they are at a same temperature or in Other words they are in a thermal
Equilibrium. Here Object C acts as a Thermometer that’s Why Zeroth law of
Thermodynamics is also a base for all temperature Measurement.

The Zeroth Law therefore enables us to use thermometers to compare the temperatures of


any objects we like.
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The zeroth law of thermodynamics states that if two thermodynamic systems are


each in thermal equilibrium with a third, then they are in thermal equilibrium with each
other.

Consider a cup of boiling water. If we place a thermometer into the cup, it gets warmed up
by the water until it reads 100°C (assume the experiment is conducted at atmospheric
pressure). We now say that the thermometer is in thermal equilibriumwith the cup of
water.

The major significance or use of zeroth law of thermodynamics is in mercury thermometer.

When a thermometer is inserted in to the fluid, the fluid (say A) and the glass wall (say B)
will attain thermal equilibrium (they are at same temperature). The glass wall (B) and
mercury (say C) are at thermal equilibrium.

So A and B ; B and C are in thermal equilibrium.

This states that body A and C are in thermal equilibrium. Thus the temperature read
by mercury fluid in the bulb is the temperature of the meeasuring fluid.

It’s very hard to describe the importance of the zero’th law without hand waving or
professorial pontification. It’s just a statement that permits you to determine the state of a
system A with information from system B if those two systems are in thermal equilibrium. If
this weren’t true, then we couldn’t measure anything!

The thermometer example: we are reasonably sure that the thermometer is in thermal
equilibrium with a cup of water, and it reads 20C. If we are also reasonably sure that the
water and air are in thermal equilibrium, then we can say that the air is also 20C.
Astounding!

Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics:

“If there are two system are in thermal equilibrium with third system then they all are in
thermal equilibrium with each other.”

Significance: Zeroth law of thermodynamics is important because it allows us to define


the concept of temperature scale. So with this law we can conclude that Temperature has
some reference.
For example, consider two separate cups of boiling water. If we place a thermometer into
the first cup, it gets warmed up by the water until it reads 100°C. We now say that the
thermometer is in thermal equilibrium with the first cup of water. Next, we move the
thermometer into the second cup of boiling water, and it continues to read 100°C. The
thermometer is therefore also in thermal equilibrium with the second cup of water. Using
the logic of the zeroth law, we can conclude that the two separate cups of boiling water are
in thermal equilibrium with each other. The zeroth law therefore enables us to use
thermometers to compare the temperatures of any objects we like.

Zeroth law basically is the law of thermal equilibrium. In practical life we all use
thermometer. Actually the working of thermometer is also based on the law of thermal
equilibrium. When a body is placed in contact with thermometer, the thermometer adjusts
itself to attain the temperature of the body and this is basically the zeroth law and this
explains how thermometer actually works to show the temperature of the body.
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Measuring our body temperature using mercury thermometer.

When mercury thermometer is placed on our body, the glass wall of the thermometer first
attains equilibrium with our body due to heat conduction. Then equilibrium is attained
between the glass wall and the mercury.

So if our body and mercury are in thermal equilibrium with the glass wall.then


our body and mercury are in thermal equilibrium with each other ie.,mercury shows the
exact body temperature.

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