Although various aspects of what is now known as thermodynamics have been of interest since antiquity, formal study began only in the early 19th century through consideration of the motive power of heat: the capacity of hot bodies to produce work. Today the scope is larger, dealing generally with energy and entropy, and with relationships among the properties of matter. Moreover, in the past 25 years engineering thermodynamics has undergone a revolution, both in terms of the presentation of fundamentals and in the manner that it is applied. In particular, the second law of thermodynamics has emerged as an effective tool for engineering analysis and design. Important topics to be considered in this course are thermodynamics, thermal systems and thermal transformation systems. Thermodynamics involves fundamental relationships between heat, work, and the properties of a system. It is concerned with the transformation of one form of energy into another and the basic laws that control such transformation. Of particular importance is the transformation of thermal energy into mechanical energy, which is the first step in the conversion of the energy associated with fossil fuels into electrical energy. Thermal transformation systems are systems that transform thermal energy into mechanical energy. This includes steam power plants, steam engines, steam turbines, gas turbines, and internal combustion engines.