First Law of Thermodynamics Concept Map
See how internal energy, heat and work fit together in one visual map, then create your own version from your lecture notes or PDF.
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CogniGuide at a glance
- What you get
- Interactive mind maps of the main ideas and how they connect. Free: overview maps (detailed maps on your first 3 creations). Plus: detailed maps with supporting concepts.
- Exports
- Your first PDF or PNG export is free; Plus exports anytime.
- Price
- Free plan: 5 creations a week, up to 3 a day. Plus: $9.99/month or $99.90/year (USD; local prices at checkout).
- Sign-up
- A free account is required before you create anything (Google or email). No credit card.
- What you can upload
- PDF, Word (.docx), PowerPoint (.pptx), plain text or Markdown, and images (PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF), or type a topic. One file per creation on the free plan; several at once on Plus.
How it compares: vs Knowt · vs Quizlet · vs NotebookLM · vs Mapify
Build Your Map From Your Own Material
Turn physics notes, textbook chapters or slides into a map you can study and change.
Map From Your Files
Upload a PDF, Word, PowerPoint or text file and the AI organizes the law into branches.
Clear Branches for Each Idea
Separate system, surroundings, internal energy, heat, work and sign conventions at a glance.
Quiz and Flashcards Next
Turn the map into a quiz or flashcards from the same notes to test your understanding.
How to Make Your Own Thermodynamics Map
Three steps from your physics notes to a map you can expand and test yourself on.
- 1
Add your notes or topic
Upload your chapter, lecture slides or type 'first law of thermodynamics' as a topic.
- 2
AI builds the map
The generator sorts the law into system, energy terms, processes and examples.
- 3
Study, expand and quiz
Expand any node, edit the wording, export the map, or turn it into a quiz.
First Law of Thermodynamics Concept Map Guide
The first law of thermodynamics is the principle of energy conservation applied to thermal systems. It states that the change in a system's internal energy equals the heat added to it minus the work it does on its surroundings. A concept map of the law links these terms so you can see how each one depends on the others, and how the law applies to isothermal, adiabatic, isobaric and isochoric processes.
- System and surroundings: the boundary that defines what energy is being tracked
- Internal energy: the total microscopic kinetic and potential energy of the particles
- Heat and work: the two ways energy crosses the boundary of a system
- Sign convention: heat added and work done by the system are treated consistently
- Special processes: how the law simplifies for constant-temperature or insulated cases
Use the map to revise the equation, check sign conventions and practise problems. CogniGuide can build a personalized version of this map from your own notes.
Explore related topics
First Law of Thermodynamics FAQs
Common questions about the law and about building a map of it.
What does the first law of thermodynamics say?
It says energy cannot be created or destroyed. The change in a system's internal energy equals the heat added to the system minus the work the system does on its surroundings, written as delta U = Q minus W.
Why is the sign convention important?
Most textbooks count heat added to the system as positive and work done by the system as positive. Keeping the convention consistent prevents sign errors in problems and on your map.
Which file types can I use to build my map?
You can upload PDF, Word (DOCX), PowerPoint (PPTX), text or Markdown files, or images of your notes. You can also just type the topic.
Is it free to make a thermodynamics concept map?
Yes. The free plan lets you create 5 maps a week with no payment needed. Paid plans raise the limits.