What is the main focus of thermodynamics?

The primary focus of thermodynamics lies in the relationship between heat and other forms of energy. This branch of physics explores how energy is transferred and transformed, specifically within systems involving heat. Thermodynamics provides the foundational principles that explain how heat can convert into work and the laws governing these processes.

Understanding this relationship is crucial in various applications, such as engines, refrigeration, and heat transfer, which also encompass fire and explosion investigations. Knowledge of thermodynamic principles is essential to analyze how energy release occurs during combustion and the resulting impacts on materials and structures.

While temperature measurement is an important aspect of thermodynamics, it is just one component of understanding the broader interactions of energy forms. Similarly, the properties of materials under heat and fire spread mechanisms are relevant to fire investigations but are not the core focus of thermodynamics itself.