First Law of Thermodynamics: Work and Thermodynamic Cycles

This lecture revisits the concept of work in thermodynamics, focusing on calculating work for reversible transformations and understanding its relation to thermodynamic cycles. The first law states that the change in internal energy is equal to the heat received by the system minus the work done by the system. By exploring reversible transformations and thermodynamic cycles, the instructor demonstrates how work is path-dependent, not a state function, and discusses the implications of this concept. The lecture also covers the definition of thermodynamic cycles, emphasizing the application of the first law to analyze energy transfers within a closed system.