Thermal Physics

12/20/07
Outline
Topic 3 Thermal physics [11hr]
3.1 Thermal concepts
3.2 Thermal properties of matter
3.3 Ideal gases (covered in next
PowerPoint)
3.1 Thermal Concepts
Objectives:
Understand how a temperature scale is constructed.
Understand heat is energy that is exchanged by systems
at different temperatures.
Understand internal energy.
Understand absolute temperature is a measure of
average kinetic energy.
State the meaning of the mole and the Avogadro
constant
Describe mechanisms by which thermal energy is
transferred.
3.1 Temperature
Temperature Useful
idea to compare two
bodies internal energy
This is measured using a
thermal property of a
substance like:
Linear expansion (mercury)
Electrical resistance
(thermocouple)
Emitted radiation (Infrared)
3.1 Temperature Scales
Fahrenheit - Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686 -
1736) 0
o
is the temperature of a ice, water, salt
mixture, 32
o
is freezing water, 96
o
was body
temperature.
Celsius - Anders Celsius (1701 - 1744) 0
o
is
freezing water, 100
o
was the boiling point of
water at 1 ATM. Later related to Kelvin scale.
Kelvin - William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin
(1824 - 1907) defined by two points: absolute
zero, and the triple point of specially prepared
water.
3.1 Heat & Internal Energy
James Prescott Joule (1818 -1889)
determined the mechanical
equivalent of heat experimentally.
Heat is defined as energy transfer
resulting in a temperature difference.
Internal energy the total kinetic
energy of the molecules of a
substance, plus any potential energy
between the molecules.
3.1 Absolute Temperature
Measure of the average kinetic energy of
the molecule in a substance.
This is directly proportional to the Kelvin
temperature.
Sometimes thermal energy is used in
reference to internal energy.
3.1 The Atomic Model
Three phase of ordinary matter.
Solid: High density with
molecules in a fixed position.
Liquid: Lower density with
molecules further apart and
free to change position.
Gas: Lowest density with
molecules even further apart
and free to move.
Water at triple point
3.1 Moles
Avogadros number tells the
molar mass
Hydrogen has a molar mass
of 2 g mol
-1
, so 2 g of
hydrogen represents 1 mole
In other words, there are
6.02 x 10
23
atoms of
hydrogen.
Example
How many grams are there in a quantity of
oxygen containing 1.20 x 10
25
molecules?
Solution:
The number of moles is 1.20 x 10
25
/ 6.02
x 10
23
= 19.93 mol
Since the molar mass is 32 (periodic table)
19.93 x 32 = 638 g = 0.638 kg
3.1 Heat Transfer
There are three ways energy is transferred:
Conduction is movement of molecular
kinetic energy through collisions between
molecules.
Good conductors of heat are usually good
electric conductors.
This includes most metal as their valance
electron are free to move and bump into
things.
3.1 Conduction Equation
Also called heat current
Q / t is the energy per unit
time, Joules sec
-1
k thermal conductivity
A cross sectional area
T temperature
x length of material
x
T
A
t
Q

k
Example
Two rods of the same length and cross-sectional
area are joined together. The left rod has a
higher k than the rod at right. The ends of the
rod are kept at a fixed temperature as shown. In
which rod is the rate of heat transfer the largest?
Is the temperature at the joining point lower or
higher than 50
o
C?
100
o
C
0
o
C
Solution
Imagine a vertical line through any part of
the rod. The heat entering the line must be
equal to the heat leaving it (conservation
of energy). Hence, the rate of heat transfer
is the same everywhere. A much larger
temperature difference can be maintained
across a bad conductor of heat. Thus, the
temperature at the joint will be higher than
50
o
C.
3.1 Convection
Since fluid molecules are free to move hotter fluid
is less dense than colder fluid. In hot fluids the
molecules are further apart, thus less dense.
This less dense fluid rises in the presence of
colder fluid and create a convection current.
3.1 Radiation
Radiation requires no
medium (matter) to
transfer energy.
Every body at some
absolute temperature T
radiates away energy as
electromagnetic waves.
P (power) AT
4
IB Note: this equation is not tested
Infrared picture of house
3.1 Radiation
Good emitters of radiation are dark and dull,
think charcoal.
At low temperatures emission is small but
increase by T
4
as temperature rises.
These are also good absorbers, think black shirt
on a hot summer day.
Shiny surfaces are reflectors, therefore are poor
absorbers and emitters.
AT room temperature objects emit wavelengths
in the infrared spectrum.
Cross Sectional Area
Cross section
Click to go back