Thermodynamics
Mechanical Equivalent of Heat
Temperature
Thermal Expansion
Heat Transfer
Ideal Gases
Thermodynamics
Temperature
Thermal Expansion
Heat Transfer
Ideal Gases
Thermodynamics
Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:
Lab Activities:
- distinguish between temperature and heat.
- explain how a temperature scale is constructed and convert temperatures from one scale to another.
- describe the ideal gas law, explain how it is used to determine absolute zero, and understand the kelvin temperature scale.
- understand and calculate the thermal expansions of solids and liquids.
- relate kinetic theory and temperature and explain the process of diffusion.
- understand the difference between monatomic and diatomic gases, the meaning of the quipartition theorem, and the expression for the internal energy of a diatomic gas.
- distinguish the various units of heat and define the mechanical equivalent of heat.
- describe specific heat and explain how the specific heats of materials are measured using the technique of calorimetry.
- compare and contrast the three common phases of matter and relate latent heat to phase changes.
- describe the three methods of heat transfer and give practical and/or environmental examples of each.
- define thermodynamic systems and states of systems, and explain how thermal processes affect such systems.
- explain the relationship among internal energy, heat, and work as expressed by the first law of thermodynamics, and learn the technique for calculating work done by gases.
- describe and understand the four fundamental thermodynamic processes using an ideal gas and analyze the work done, heat flow, and change in internal energy that occur during each of these processes.
- state and explain the second law of thermodynamics in several forms and explain the concept of entropy.
- explain the concept of a heat engine and compute thermal efficiency, and explain the concept of a thermal pump and compute coefficient of performance.
- explain how the Carnot cycle applies to heat engines, compute the ideal Carnot efficiency, and state the third law of thermodynamics.
Lab Activities:
- Mechanical Equivalence of Heat – Students will examine the transformation from mechanical to thermal energy that occurs when a bag of metal shot falls to the lab table and comes to rest.
- Thermodynamics Lab – Students will monitor the total thermal energy of a system as heat is added.