What does thermodynamics study?

Thermodynamics is focused on the study of thermal energy and its interactions with matter and energy. It encompasses the principles that govern how energy is transferred and transformed between systems and their surroundings. This field explores concepts such as heat, work, temperature, and energy conservation, which are fundamental to understanding various physical processes.

By examining how thermal energy influences matter, scientists and engineers can analyze a wide range of phenomena, from the functioning of engines and refrigerators to the behavior of gases and phase transitions. The laws of thermodynamics, which include the first law of energy conservation and the second law regarding the direction of spontaneous processes, form the theoretical framework that guides these studies.

The other options do not relate directly to the scope of thermodynamics. For instance, the interaction of light and sound pertains more to the fields of optics and acoustics, while the behavior of electrical circuits falls under the domain of electrical engineering and physics. Similarly, while chemical reactions involve energy changes, they are specifically part of thermochemistry rather than the broader principles of thermodynamics.