| | "Classical" thermodynamics, on the other hand, predates this field, and makes ''no'' explicit reference to the constituent particles of a system. It consists of a number of "empirical" laws, which are derived purely from observations on thermodynamical systems, such as vessels of gas, or [[steam engine]]s. Well-known "laws" of thermodynamics are:<ref>Mark W. Zemansky, ''Heat and Thermodynamics'', McGraw-Hill, New York, 1957</ref> | | "Classical" thermodynamics, on the other hand, predates this field, and makes ''no'' explicit reference to the constituent particles of a system. It consists of a number of "empirical" laws, which are derived purely from observations on thermodynamical systems, such as vessels of gas, or [[steam engine]]s. Well-known "laws" of thermodynamics are:<ref>Mark W. Zemansky, ''Heat and Thermodynamics'', McGraw-Hill, New York, 1957</ref> |
| | :allows us to define the concept of [[temperature]], by stating that "''Two systems in thermal [[equilibrium]] with a third one are in thermal equilibrium with each other''". This law is called "zeroth" because it was only formulated after the three others, but is actually more fundamental, and hence deserves a lower number. | | :allows us to define the concept of [[temperature]], by stating that "''Two systems in thermal [[equilibrium]] with a third one are in thermal equilibrium with each other''". This law is called "zeroth" because it was only formulated after the three others, but is actually more fundamental, and hence deserves a lower number. |