Zeroth Law Thermal Equilibrium Lab - Physics Simulations

t = 0.00s

Live Telemetry & Summary

Observe the temperatures of both blocks approaching the final equilibrium value over time.

Time (t):0.00 s

Equilibrium Temp (T_f):55.0 °C

Block 1 Temp (T₁):90.0 °C

Block 2 Temp (T₂):20.0 °C

Variable Adjuster

Block 1 Temperature (T₁)90°C

0100

Block 1 Mass (m₁)5kg

110

Block 2 Temperature (T₂)20°C

0100

Block 2 Mass (m₂)5kg

110

Zeroth Law Thermal Equilibrium

TEMP

The Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics defines temperature and thermal equilibrium. It states that if two thermodynamic systems are each in thermal equilibrium with a third system, then they are in thermal equilibrium with each other. This justifies the use of thermometers. Practically, systems in contact exchange heat until they reach a shared unified temperature (equilibrium).

T_1 = T_3 \text{ and } T_2 = T_3 \Rightarrow T_1 = T_2

Whiteboard Solver Steps

Step 1

Thermal Equilibrium Equation

According to the Zeroth Law, when two systems are in contact, heat flows until they reach thermal equilibrium, meaning they share the same temperature Tf.

T_f = \frac{m_1 c_1 T_1 + m_2 c_2 T_2}{m_1 c_1 + m_2 c_2}

Step 2

Equilibrium Temperature Calculation

Using the conservation of energy (heat lost equals heat gained), we find the final unified temperature of the coupled systems.

T_f = \frac{5 \cdot 4184 \cdot 90 + 5 \cdot 4184 \cdot 20}{5 \cdot 4184 + 5 \cdot 4184} = 55.0 ^\circ \text{C}