Full Idea
The Laws of Thermodynamics introduced the concepts of entropy and work; put simply, how much useful energy you can really get out of a steam engine.
Gist of Idea
Thermodynamics introduced work and entropy, to understand steam engine efficiency
Source
Gavin Hesketh (The Particle Zoo [2016], 03)
Book Reference
Hesketh,Gavin: 'The Particle Zoo' [Quercus 2016], p.47
A Reaction
The point of science by this stage was to introduce measurable and quantifiable concepts