Light

Light is a type of energy which propagates as electromagnetic waves. In the spectrum of electromagnetic waves, light has place between ultraviolet and infrared region.

Some Facts About Light

•    Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves, therefore, light is also transverse wave.
•    Wave nature of light explains; rectilinear propagation of light, reflection of light, refraction of light, interference of light, diffraction of light and polarization of light.
•    The happenings in physics like Photoelectric Effect and Compton Effect can not be explained on the basis of wave nature of light. These phenomenons are explained on the basis of quantum theory of light, explained by Albert Einstein.
•    The quantum theory of light, considers light as a packet or bundle of energy, these energy packets are called photons. Photon associates with it as Energy E; where E = hv
•    Light has dual nature and behaves as a particle as well as wave.
•    Speed of Light was first calculated by Roemer in 1678 AD.
•    Speed of light is maximum in vacuum, which is equivalent to 3x108 m/s.

Thermodynamics

First Law of Thermodynamics

The first law of thermodynamics is the application of the conservation of energy principle to heat and thermodynamic processes:

The change in internal energy of a system is equal to the heat added to the system minus the work done by the system.

Mathematically, ΔU (Change in Internal Energy) = Q (Heat added to or drawn from the system) – W (Work done by the system)

Heat

Heat may be defined as energy in transit from a high temperature object to a lower temperature object.

Some Characteristics of Heat and Mathematical Equivalent

•    Heat is also defined as the transfer of kinetic energy from one medium or object to another, or from an energy source to a medium or object.

•    The heat transfer can occur in three ways: radiation, conduction, and convection.

•    The standard unit of heat in the International System of Units (SI) is the calorie (cal).

•    One calorie is defined as the amount of energy transfer required to raise the temperature of one gram of pure liquid water by one degree Celsius, provided the water temperature is higher than the freezing point and lower than the boiling point.

•    Sometimes the kilocalorie (kcal) is specified as a unit of heat; 1 kcal = 1000 cal. This is the also called diet calorie.

•    The amount of heat contained in a body depends upon the mass of the body.

•    If W is work performed and Heat produced is H, then W/H = J or W = JH, where J is a constant called mechanical equivalent of heat. The value of J is 4.186 Joule / Calorie. This means if 4.186 Joule of work is done, 1 Calorie of heat is consumed.