Law of Thermodynamics

Definition

The Law of Thermodynamics refers to a set of principles that describe the behavior and transfer of energy in systems. It states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed.

Analogy

Think of the Law of Thermodynamics like a game of billiards. When you hit the cue ball, it transfers its energy to the other balls on the table. No matter how many times the balls collide and move around, the total amount of energy remains constant throughout the game.

Related terms

Energy Flow: This term describes how energy moves through an ecosystem, from producers to consumers and eventually decomposers.

Entropy: Entropy is a measure of disorder or randomness in a system. In ecosystems, entropy increases over time as energy is lost as heat and organisms break down.

Trophic Levels: Trophic levels refer to different levels in a food chain or food web where organisms obtain their energy. Producers are at the first trophic level, followed by primary consumers (herbivores), secondary consumers (carnivores), and so on.