Question

The laws of thermodynamics apply only to:

• A. Matter in bulk
• B. Individual atom
• C. Individual molecule
• D. Individual proton

Hint:

Thermodynamics deals with macroscopic properties such as temperature, pressure, and volume, which require a large number of particles to exhibit meaningful behavior. Therefore, it applies to systems where collective properties are observed.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The laws of thermodynamics primarily apply to macroscopic systems, i.e., matter in bulk. They describe the energy transformations and state changes in systems consisting of a large number of particles. The thermodynamic laws are not typically applicable to individual atoms, molecules, or protons, as they deal with properties that arise from the collective behavior of matter. These laws are statistical in nature, involving the averages of large ensembles of particles.
- Matter in bulk: Correct answer. The laws of thermodynamics describe the behavior of matter on a large scale, involving many particles interacting with each other.
- Individual atom: Incorrect. Thermodynamics does not apply to individual atoms as it is based on macroscopic quantities such as temperature, pressure, and volume, which are properties of bulk matter.
- Individual molecule: Incorrect. Like atoms, molecules are too small for thermodynamics to be directly applicable. Thermodynamics deals with the collective behavior of large numbers of molecules.
- Individual proton: Incorrect. Thermodynamics is not applicable to individual particles like protons, as it focuses on macroscopic systems where statistical methods can be applied.
Thus, the correct answer is that the laws of thermodynamics apply to matter in bulk.