The first law of thermodynamics is a statement of

  • A. the conservation of energy
  • B. the conservation of mass
  • C. the increase of entropy
  • D. the constancy of temperature

Explanation

Energy can be converted from one form to another but can neither be created nor destroyed, which is expressed as the change in internal energy equalling the heat added to the system plus the work done on it. It follows that a machine producing energy from nothing is impossible. The tendency of entropy to increase is the second law, an entirely separate statement.

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