Thermodynamics is a branch of physics that studies thermal energy and the principles of its distribution throughout the volume of a substance or a certain medium. This discipline is based on some general universal principles and uses the experience of many other sciences. Thermodynamic equilibrium is the cornerstone of this area of scientific knowledge.
One of the most important and perhaps the most specific property of living organisms is their unique ability to convert energy and store it in a wide variety of forms. Thermodynamic equilibrium is such a state of a system in which its parameters and characteristics cannot change over time without the influence of any external factors.
That is: a theoretically isolated physical system, consisting of one or more physical objects, can remain in a state of balance indefinitely. If thermodynamic equilibrium is disturbed, any system will tend to return toto its stable state on its own. This is one of the fundamental principles of physics, on which too much is built both in our life and in nature.
The easiest way to imagine thermodynamic equilibrium is by the example of such a natural human attribute as a thermos with hot tea, which is that very isolated system. Of course, the temperature at any point of the substance (in this case, tea) will be the same. But if you drop an ice cube into a thermos, the thermodynamic equilibrium will be instantly disturbed, since there will be a temperature difference in different parts of the liquid.
In this case, heat transfer will occur from a region of higher temperature towards colder areas, until the uniformity of the thermal regime is established throughout the volume. When this happens, stability will be restored. This is how any thermodynamic system works, regardless of its scale and the number of objects it consists of.
The main condition of equilibrium, which is the same temperature index at all points in the system, is especially important for living organisms. All biological objects require a regular supply of energy to maintain normal life. All biological processes also need stable heat transfer and uniform distribution.
For example, plants, accumulating solar energy, convert it into chemical bonds of organic substances throughphotosynthesis. In the body of animals, everything happens exactly the opposite - organic substances obtained with food are converted into energy. All such processes (for representatives of both the plant and animal worlds) occur in strict accordance with the principles of the thermodynamic system.
The basic concepts of thermodynamics are universal and unshakable for both living biological systems and inanimate nature. The principles of thermodynamics state that any collection of related objects can be called a thermodynamic system. The difference is only in the scale and number of objects. Examples of such systems are the cells of our body, the heart or other internal organs. The whole organism is also in some sense a thermodynamic system. Even such gigantic objects as the biosphere, the oceans also belong to this category. And they are subject to the same laws of thermodynamic equilibrium.
