The Development of Thermodynamics in the h Century

Thermodynamics emerged in the 19th century to explain heat, work, and energy in engines.
Sadi Carnot (1824) introduced the concept of the ideal heat engine, laying the foundation for efficiency studies.
James Joule demonstrated the equivalence of heat and mechanical work, establishing energy conservation.
Rudolf Clausius formulated the second law of thermodynamics, introducing the concept of entropy.
William Thomson (Lord Kelvin) developed the absolute temperature scale and refined thermodynamic theory.
Thermodynamics helped explain why some processes are irreversible and why energy spreads.
The field provided crucial insights for steam engines, powering the Industrial Revolution.
Ludwig Boltzmann connected thermodynamics with the microscopic motion of particles.
Thermodynamic principles underpin chemistry, engineering, and modern physics.
The 19th-century work on heat and energy set the stage for quantum mechanics and statistical physics.