third law of thermodynamics

E183516

law of thermodynamics physical law

The third law of thermodynamics is a fundamental principle stating that the entropy of a perfect crystal approaches zero as its temperature approaches absolute zero, forming a basis for absolute entropy measurements and low-temperature physics.

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All labels observed (3)

Label	Occurrences
Nernst heat theorem	1
Third Law of Thermodynamics	1
third law of thermodynamics canonical	1

Statements (45)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	law of thermodynamics ⓘ physical law ⓘ
appliesTo	perfect crystal ⓘ
assumes	absence of residual configurational disorder in a perfect crystal ⓘ unique ground state for a perfect crystal ⓘ
category	fundamental law of nature ⓘ
compatibleWith	quantum mechanics ⓘ
concernsConcept	absolute zero ⓘ
concernsQuantity	entropy ⓘ temperature ⓘ
contrastsWith	First Law of Thermodynamics ⓘ surface form: first law of thermodynamics second law of thermodynamics ⓘ zeroth law of thermodynamics ⓘ
defines	zero point of entropy scale ⓘ
domain	equilibrium thermodynamics ⓘ
field	low-temperature physics ⓘ statistical mechanics ⓘ thermodynamics ⓘ
formulatedBy	Walther Nernst ⓘ
formulationDate	early 20th century ⓘ
hasConsequence	entropy change for any isothermal process tends to zero as temperature approaches absolute zero ⓘ establishes absolute entropy scale ⓘ heat capacities tend to zero as temperature approaches absolute zero for many systems ⓘ
hasInterpretation	entropy measures disorder relative to a perfectly ordered ground state ⓘ
hasLimitation	does not strictly apply to glasses and amorphous solids ⓘ does not strictly apply to systems with degenerate ground states ⓘ
hasName	third law of thermodynamics ⓘ
implies	entropy of a perfect crystal at 0 K is zero ⓘ it is impossible to reach absolute zero in a finite number of steps ⓘ
influenced	development of chemical thermodynamics ⓘ standard entropy tables ⓘ
mathematicalForm	S → 0 as T → 0 for a perfect crystal ⓘ
precedes	development of quantum statistics ⓘ
provides	reference point for absolute entropy ⓘ
relatedTo	third law of thermodynamics self-linksurface differs ⓘ surface form: Nernst heat theorem Nernst unattainability principle ⓘ
statedAs	The entropy of a perfect crystal approaches zero as its temperature approaches absolute zero. ⓘ
usedFor	calculation of absolute entropies ⓘ calorimetric entropy measurements ⓘ determination of equilibrium constants at low temperature ⓘ
usedIn	cryogenics ⓘ low-temperature thermodynamics ⓘ
usedToExplain	behavior of specific heat at low temperatures ⓘ limitations on cooling processes ⓘ
validAt	temperatures approaching 0 K ⓘ

Referenced by (3)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Walther Nernst → notableWork → third law of thermodynamics ⓘ

third law of thermodynamics → relatedTo → third law of thermodynamics self-linksurface differs ⓘ

this entity surface form: Nernst heat theorem

First Law of Thermodynamics → precedes → third law of thermodynamics ⓘ

this entity surface form: Third Law of Thermodynamics