What is Thermodynamics?

The word thermodynamics was coined by William Thompson (Lord Kelvin) in 1749.
It comes from the Greek words: therme (heat) and dynamis (power).
The name heat-power is appropriate because thermodynamics developed from efforts to explain the conversion of heat into power by steam engines.

Timeline of the Early Developments of Thermodynamics

Newcomen invented an improved steam engine
1712
1798
Count Rumford began canon-boring experiments (dealing with the conversion of work into heat)
1840s
Mayer (1842), Joule (1847) and Helmholtz (1847) independently arrived at the conservation of energy principle
Carnot published "Reflections on the Motive Power of Fire"
1824
Clausius formulated the Second Law of Thermodynamics
1850
Timeline of thermodynamics
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Ch 1, Lesson A, Page 1 - What is Thermodynamics?