WORK IN THERMODYNAMICS

The amount of mechanical energy exchanged between two bodies during mechanical interaction is called work. A body can possess mechanical energy but not work. Mechanical energy of the body is its capacity to do work. When a body A does work on body B, the body A loses mechanical energy and the body B gains it. Similarly, transfer of internal energy from one body to the other is called heat. When heat is transferred from body A to

body B, the body A loses internal energy and the body B gains it. In thermodynamics, work done by the system is considered positive and on the system as negative.