Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics

According to the zeroth law of thermodynamics given by I. Muller, "At an ideal interface temperature is
continuous between the two bodies; typically between a body whose temperature is measured and the
thermometer.
"When a given object or body A is in thermal equilibrium with a body or object B, and separately with a
body or object C also, then it is necessary that B and C would also be in thermal equilibrium with each
other."
This statement tells us that thermal equilibrium is a Euclidean relation between thermodynamic systems.
Thermal equilibrium is also a proven reflexive relation. Equivalence relations are those which are both
reflexive and Euclidean. Hence thermal equilibrium is a transitive relationship. Another result is that the
equilibrium relationship is always symmetric: If the body A is in thermal equilibrium with another body or
object B, then B is in thermal equilibrium with A. Hence it can be said that two systems are in thermal
equilibrium with each other.
There are four laws of thermodynamics, beginning with the Zeroth Law, which is the statement about the
temperature.

The basic application of the zeroth law is the definition of thermal equilibrium and its implication. It also
defines the exchange of heat as well as defines the temperature. The law deals with the concepts used
for designing the thermometer.

Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics Definition

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The basic property which distinguishes thermodynamics from other sciences is temperature. Temperature
is as important to thermodynamics as force is to statics. Temperature is basically associated with the
ability to distinguish hot from cold. When two bodies having different temperatures come in contact with
each other, they attain a common temperature and hence the state of thermal equilibrium.

According to the Zeroth law of thermodynamics:

When a given object or body A is in thermal equilibrium with a body or object B, and separately
with a body or object C also, then B and C would necessarily be in thermal equilibrium with each
other.
The Zeroth law of thermodynamics is the basis for temperature measurement of a body or object. A body
at a lower temperature is called a cold body and a body at a higher temperature is called a hot body.

Thermometric property: A physical characteristic of an arbitrarily chosen body which

changes with change in temperature is called thermometric property (X).

The reference body is then called the thermometer.

The Zeroth law is basically the generalization of thermal equilibrium.

The major consequence of this law is that it marks the thermal equilibrium between
systems as a transitive relation.

The systems that are in thermal equilibrium have the same temperature.

For thermal equilibrium we say that the net change is zero for the thermal energy. If K, L
and M are 3 different systems of thermodynamics then the law can be stated as written
above.

Thermodynamic system follows these properties:

1. Symmetric: If a body K is in thermal equilibrium with a body L then it is necessary that the
opposite would also be true, i.e., L would be in thermal equilibrium with K.
2. Euclidean relations between bodies.
3. Reflexive relation between bodies.

4. Equivalence relation between bodies.

5. Transitive relation between bodies that is if K is in thermal equilibrium with L and L is in
thermal equilibrium with M then it is necessary that K will be in thermal equilibrium with M.

Thermometric properties and thermometer: A physical characteristic of an arbitrarily chosen body

which changes with change in temperature is called thermometric property (X). The reference body is
then called the thermometer. There are 5 different kinds of thermometers each with its own thermometric
property. The most common type of thermometer consists of a small amount of mercury in an evacuated
capillary tube.

The common thermometers are mercury in glass, resistance, thermocouple, constant volume gas
thermometer and constant pressure gas thermometer. Before 1954, two fixed points called the ice point
and the steam point were used to measure the temperature of a system. After it only one point was used
called the triple point of water which is the standard fixed point of thermometry. An absolute temperature
scale may be constructed by taking the temperature directly proportional to the volume of the gas in a
constant pressure gas thermometer. It is known that the scale which is based upon a gas at zero pressure
is the physical realization of a logically formulated absolute thermodynamics temperature scale, which will
be introduced in connection to second law of thermodynamics. For ordinary purpose absolute
temperature may be found from the relation ( C = 273.15 K).

Thermal Equilibrium
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Temperature is basically associated with the ability to distinguish hot from cold. When two bodies that
have different temperatures come in contact with each other, they attain a common temperature and
hence the state of Thermal Equilibrium. The zeroth law of thermodynamics is the basis for temperature
measurement of a body or object. The major consequence of this law is that it marks the thermal
equilibrium between systems as a transitive relation. The zeroth law is basically the generalization of
thermal equilibrium. The systems that are in thermal equilibrium have same temperatures. A system is
assumed to be in the state of thermal equilibrium if there is no net change in the thermal energy.

When the small, random exchanges (for example: the changes caused by Brownian motion and photon

emissions) between them do not lead to a net change in the total energy summed over all systems then
all these systems are said to be in thermal equilibrium with each other.
Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics Examples
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Let us consider two beakers full of water. Then for one beaker, the temperature of water is above
the normal room temperature, and for the other beaker it is below the normal room temperature.
They are left on the table for some time such that they both are not in contact with each other. If
we check the beakers after some time, equilibrium for both the beakers is reached. As observed
both the beakers of water are at the same temperature. The two beakers actually come in thermal
equilibrium with the surroundings. Hence they are in thermal equilibrium with each other also, and
they are at the same temperature.

When we take an electric rod and put it in water then the water also becomes hot. This is
because the heat is exchanged between the two in order to come in thermal equilibrium with each
other.

Sweating in human body is another example. We feel a cooling effect after sweating.

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