Basic
Thermodynamics-1 
Attempts to understand how a steam locomotive worked gave rise to a discipline called Thermodynamics. A locomotive is certainly dynamic, and involves various forms of energy, including heat. Changes of State are also involved (H2O liquid -> gas) are used to make the engine move in a particular direction.
Thermodynamic studies
involve "Systems" and their "Environment or Surroundings".
A Computer is a System. It could be placed in numerous Environments that interact with the System. One can imagine PCs placed in tree canopies, buried in quicksand, frozen at the South Pole….
We could focus on the computer's hard-drive rather than the whole contraption. The hard-drive would constitute our new System. This could be studied in various Environments, like different brands of computers.
Systems are described in terms of their Volume, Pressure, Temperature & Internal Energy. The latter is not normally appreciated by casual observation.
Reactive Systems go from an "Initial State" to a "Final State"
If all the energy is retained within the System it is Closed.
If energy is lost from the System to its Surroundings it is Open.
Intact Plants are Open while individual reactions within them may be closed.