Internal energy in thermodynamics is defined as the total energy contained within a thermodynamic system, excluding energy related to external forces or displacement. According to standard textbooks, the total energy of a system is the sum of internal energy, kinetic energy, and potential energy. This definition is more precise than the one provided by Wikipedia, which simplifies internal energy as merely the total energy of the system. Understanding this distinction is crucial for accurate thermodynamic analysis.
PREREQUISITESStudents and professionals in physics, engineering, and environmental science who seek to deepen their understanding of thermodynamic principles and energy definitions.
Strictly speaking, your textbook is the better, and more common, definition.princejan7 said:Wikipedia says its the TOTAL energy contained by a thermodynamic system.
But the textbook says
Total energy = internal energy + kinetic energy + potential energy
In thermodynamics, the internal energy is the total energy contained by a thermodynamic system. It is the energy needed to create the system but excludes the energy to displace the system's surroundings, any energy associated with a move as a whole, or due to external force fields.