What were Lord Kelvin's contributions to thermodynamics?

Lord Kelvin played an instrumental role in formulating the first and second laws of thermodynamics during his long tenure as a professor at the University of Glasgow. He defined thermodynamic temperature starting from absolute zero, calculating its correct value to be approximately −273.15 degrees Celsius. His pioneering work in this field helped unify physics as an emerging academic discipline.

What we know

• Lord Kelvin was instrumental in the formulation of the first and second laws of thermodynamics. [2]
• He historically defined thermodynamic temperature in terms of a relation between macroscopic quantities of thermodynamic work and heat transfer. [4]
• Kelvin determined the correct value of absolute zero as approximately −273.15 degrees Celsius or −459.67 degrees Fahrenheit. [2]
• Absolute temperatures are stated in units of kelvin in his honour. [2]

Where to go next

• the bigger pictureHow is the second law of thermodynamics defined?
• how it workedWhat is absolute zero on the thermodynamic scale?
• a case in pointWhat was the Joule-Thomson effect?
• whoWho was Rudolf Clausius?
• what followedHow does temperature reflect particle kinetic energy?
• an unexpected connectionHow is Lord Kelvin connected to Kodak?Lord Kelvin was recruited around 1899 to serve as vice-chairman of the board of the British company Kodak Limited.

Sources

• [1]William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin (Wikidata Q122701) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Lord Kelvin · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Second law of thermodynamics · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Thermodynamic temperature · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Temperature · CC BY-SA 4.0