
The zeroth law of thermodynamics is one of the four laws of thermodynamics, which is the study of the relationship between heat, temperature, work, and energy. The zeroth law provides the foundation for temperature as an empirical parameter in thermodynamic systems and establishes the transitive relation between the temperatures of multiple bodies in thermal equilibrium. It states that if two systems are in thermal equilibrium with a third system, then they are in thermal equilibrium with each other. This law is important for the mathematical formulation of thermodynamics and is used to define temperature in a non-circular way without reference to entropy. The zeroth law also justifies the use of suitable thermodynamic systems as thermometers and provides a definition of temperature that is empirical and consistent across substances.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The 0th law of thermodynamics defines the mathematical definition of temperature. |
| Importance | The law is important for the mathematical formulation of thermodynamics. |
| Use | It is mostly used to compare the temperatures of different objects. |
| Application | The most common application of the 0th law is in thermometers. |
| Statement | If two systems are in thermal equilibrium with a third system, then they are in thermal equilibrium with each other. |
| Equilibrium | Two bodies or systems in contact are said to be in thermal equilibrium if both are at the same temperature. |
| Symmetry | If A is in thermal equilibrium with B, then B is in thermal equilibrium with A. |
| Transitivity | If A is in thermal equilibrium with B and B is in thermal equilibrium with C, then A is in thermal equilibrium with C. |
| Reflexivity | If a body C is in thermal equilibrium with two other bodies, A and B, then A and B are in thermal equilibrium with one another. |
| Tags | A unique "tag" can be assigned to every system, and if the "tags" of two systems are the same, they are in thermal equilibrium with each other. |
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What You'll Learn
- The 0th law of thermodynamics defines the relationship between thermal equilibrium and temperature
- It allows for a non-circular definition of temperature, without reference to entropy
- The law enables the use of thermometers to measure temperature
- It establishes a transitive relation between the temperatures of multiple bodies in thermal equilibrium
- The 0th law is important for the mathematical formulation of thermodynamics

The 0th law of thermodynamics defines the relationship between thermal equilibrium and temperature
The 0th law of thermodynamics is a foundational principle that defines the relationship between thermal equilibrium and temperature. It states that if two systems or objects are each in thermal equilibrium with a third system or object, then the first two systems or objects are in thermal equilibrium with each other. In other words, it establishes that temperature is a quantity that is the same for two systems if they can be placed in thermal equilibrium with each other, thus defining a scale of temperature.
The 0th law can be understood through the concept of "tags" or labels. Each system or object can be assigned a unique "tag" based on its temperature, and if two systems have the same "tag," they are in thermal equilibrium with each other. This property justifies the use of empirical temperature as a tagging system and provides a basis for the construction of empirical temperature scales.
The law is particularly important for the mathematical formulation of thermodynamics and the definition of temperature. It allows for the comparison of temperatures between different objects and provides a foundation for the use of thermometers, which rely on the expansion or contraction of a substance in response to changes in temperature.
The 0th law also has practical applications in everyday situations. For example, if a thermostat in a room reads a certain temperature, the 0th law implies that other objects in the room, such as a wall clock, are also at the same temperature. Similarly, if a glass of ice water and a glass of hot water are left on a countertop for a few hours, they will eventually reach thermal equilibrium with the room, resulting in all three attaining the same temperature.
The 0th law of thermodynamics is one of the four fundamental laws of thermodynamics, which describe the behaviour of physical quantities such as temperature, energy, and entropy in various situations. It provides a basis for understanding the movement of heat energy, including the types of heat transfer, phase changes, and the relationship between energy and work.
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It allows for a non-circular definition of temperature, without reference to entropy
The zeroth law of thermodynamics is important for the mathematical formulation of thermodynamics, or more precisely, to state the mathematical definition of temperature. It provides a foundation for temperature as an empirical parameter in thermodynamic systems and establishes the transitive relation between the temperatures of multiple bodies in thermal equilibrium. The law allows for a non-circular definition of temperature without reference to entropy, its conjugate variable.
The zeroth law of thermodynamics states that if two systems are in thermal equilibrium with a third system, then they are in thermal equilibrium with each other. This means that if body A is in thermal equilibrium with body B, and A is also in thermal equilibrium with body C, then B and C are also in thermal equilibrium with each other. This is because the two systems, A and B, exist at the same temperature, and the two systems, A and C, exist at the same temperature. Therefore, systems B and C must also exist at the same temperature and are in thermal equilibrium.
The zeroth law is needed for the definition of temperature scales and justifies the use of practical thermometers. Thermodynamic systems are in their own state of internal thermodynamic equilibrium, meaning there is no change in its observable state over time and no flows occur in it. A unique "tag" can be assigned to every system, and if the "tags" of two systems are the same, they are in thermal equilibrium with each other. This property is used to justify the use of empirical temperature as a tagging system.
The zeroth law is significant as it allows for a consistent definition of temperature across different substances. It is a foundational concept that underpins the other laws of thermodynamics, which discuss how and why heat moves. The law is applicable in various everyday situations, such as when ice is dropped into a hot cup of coffee, or when a package of meat is left in a freezer overnight.
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The law enables the use of thermometers to measure temperature
The Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics is a foundational principle that enables the use of thermometers to measure temperature. This law, formulated by Ralph H. Fowler in the 1930s, provides a clear definition of temperature and its role in thermal equilibrium.
The Zeroth Law states that if two systems, A and B, are in thermal equilibrium with a third system, C, then systems A and B are also in thermal equilibrium with each other. In other words, if systems A and C are at the same temperature, and systems B and C are at the same temperature, then systems A and B must also be at the same temperature. This law establishes the transitive relation between temperatures of multiple bodies in thermal equilibrium.
The concept of thermal equilibrium is central to the Zeroth Law. Thermal equilibrium occurs when two systems or objects have no heat flow between them, despite being connected by a path that allows for heat transfer. This is because heat always moves spontaneously from hotter places to colder ones. When two objects are at the same temperature, there is no driving force for heat transfer, and they are said to be in thermal equilibrium.
The Zeroth Law enables the use of thermometers by providing a basis for temperature measurement. Temperature is a property that distinguishes thermodynamics from other sciences. It is a measurable quantity that indicates the thermal equilibrium between systems. Thermometers, as simple examples of the Zeroth Law in action, utilise the expansion of a substance (such as mercury) with increasing temperature to indicate the temperature of a system.
The Zeroth Law is essential for defining temperature scales and justifying the use of practical thermometers. It allows for the unique "tagging" of systems based on their temperature, providing a scale that represents equality of temperature across different systems. This law brings order and continuity to the concept of temperature, allowing for the comparison of temperatures between various objects and systems.
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It establishes a transitive relation between the temperatures of multiple bodies in thermal equilibrium
The zeroth law of thermodynamics establishes a transitive relation between the temperatures of multiple bodies in thermal equilibrium. This law is important for the mathematical formulation of thermodynamics, specifically for defining temperature in a non-circular way without referring to entropy. The zeroth law states that if two systems, A and B, are in thermal equilibrium with a third system, C, then systems A and B are also in thermal equilibrium with each other. This is because all three systems are at the same temperature.
This law is based on temperature measurement and is used to compare the temperatures of different objects. It allows us to define temperature as an empirical parameter in thermodynamic systems, providing a foundation for the concept of temperature. The zeroth law justifies the use of suitable thermodynamic systems as thermometers, which can provide empirical temperature scales. These scales bring additional continuity and ordering ("hot" and "cold") properties to the concept of temperature.
The zeroth law is needed for the definition of temperature scales and justifies the use of practical thermometers. It is often expressed as a right-Euclidean statement: "If two systems are in thermal equilibrium with a third system, then they are in thermal equilibrium with each other." This statement asserts that thermal equilibrium is a symmetric and transitive relation between thermodynamic systems.
An example of the zeroth law in action is when you have two glasses of water, one with hot water and the other with cold water. If we leave them on a table for a few hours, they will attain thermal equilibrium with the temperature of the room, and all three will reach the same temperature. This illustrates how the zeroth law establishes a transitive relation between the temperatures of multiple bodies in thermal equilibrium.
The zeroth law is one of the four fundamental laws of thermodynamics, which define a group of physical quantities such as temperature, energy, and entropy that characterise thermodynamic systems in equilibrium. These laws are important not only for thermodynamics but also as fundamental laws of physics with applications in other natural sciences.
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The 0th law is important for the mathematical formulation of thermodynamics
The 0th law of thermodynamics is important for the mathematical formulation of thermodynamics. The law is based on temperature measurement and is used to compare the temperatures of different objects. It defines temperature in a non-circular way without reference to entropy, its conjugate variable.
The 0th law of thermodynamics states that if two systems are in thermal equilibrium with a third system, then they are in thermal equilibrium with each other. For example, if body A is in thermal equilibrium with body B, and A is also in thermal equilibrium with body C, then B and C are also in thermal equilibrium with each other. This is because they all share the same temperature.
The 0th law is needed for the definition of temperature scales and justifies the use of practical thermometers. It allows for the foundation of temperature as an empirical parameter in thermodynamic systems and establishes the transitive relation between the temperatures of multiple bodies in thermal equilibrium.
The 0th law is important as it provides a consistent definition of temperature, which is a fundamental concept in thermodynamics. It is also important because it allows for the use of the second law of thermodynamics to provide an absolute, or thermodynamic, temperature scale.
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Frequently asked questions
The Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics states that if two systems are in thermal equilibrium with a third system, then they are in thermal equilibrium with each other.
Thermal equilibrium is when two systems or objects have no flow of heat between them despite being connected by a path permeable to heat.
The Zeroth Law is used to define temperature in a non-circular way without reference to entropy. It also justifies the use of thermometers.
A common example of the Zeroth Law in action is a thermometer.
Some everyday examples of the Zeroth Law include:
- Placing a glass of ice water and a glass of hot water on a kitchen countertop and allowing them to reach thermal equilibrium with the room, resulting in all three reaching the same temperature.
- Assuming that a package of meat placed in a freezer overnight has reached the same temperature as the freezer and its other contents.











































