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Physics Topic 3 Study Guide

Thermal physics covers concepts like molecular theory, phases of matter, internal energy, and heat transfer mechanisms. Key relationships include the ideal gas law (PV=nRT), gas laws like Boyle's, Charles', and Gay-Lussac's laws, and equations involving specific heat, latent heat, temperature, pressure, and volume. Real gases are approximated as ideal gases at high temperatures and pressures where intermolecular forces are negligible. The kinetic model views temperature as a measure of molecular kinetic energy.

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16 views

Physics Topic 3 Study Guide

Thermal physics covers concepts like molecular theory, phases of matter, internal energy, and heat transfer mechanisms. Key relationships include the ideal gas law (PV=nRT), gas laws like Boyle's, Charles', and Gay-Lussac's laws, and equations involving specific heat, latent heat, temperature, pressure, and volume. Real gases are approximated as ideal gases at high temperatures and pressures where intermolecular forces are negligible. The kinetic model views temperature as a measure of molecular kinetic energy.

Uploaded by

Sai 0235
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PHYSICS TOPIC 3 –

THERMAL PHYSICS

Study Guide
3.1 Thermal Concepts KEY CONCEPTS
Molecular Theory
Molecular Theory – all the matters are made up of molecules. All molecules are making an
endless motion

2 forces like attraction and repulsion can also exist within molecules

Solid, Liquid and Gas


SOLID LIQUID GAS
In solid, the molecules can vibrate In liquid, the molecules can freely In gas, molecules can scatter
within limited area, but cannot move everywhere at greater speed.
translate Particle forces are insignificant

(Fixed Volume, low Ek & Ep) (Fixed Volume, medium Ek & Ep) (Large Volume, high Ek & Ep)

Internal Energy
Internal Energy – the sum of total random energy (kinetic energy) and total interparticle
potential energy (potential energy)

Kinetic Energy: vibration, transferring of particles,


Potential Energy: Inter-molecular force

When heating up, the vibrations become more energetic (increase in kinetic energy)
As heat energy is being added, molecules are moving farther (increase in potential energy)

Internal Energy: Ek + Ep (Unit: Joules)

3 ways of changing internal energy


CONDUCTION CONVECTION RADIATION
Conduction – when 2 solids of Convection – requires a fluid as a Radiation – heat energy that’s
different temperature touches. way of heat transfer doesn’t require medium to transfer
Thermal energy is transferred hot to Hot air is less dense so it rises and
cold becomes cooler

Temperature
Temperature – the measure of hotness and coldness of the body
Freezing point (0 C) whereas boiling point is (100 C)

0 K = -273 C (absolute zero). Magnitude of kelvin is same as degrees Celsius

Celsius to Kelvin Relationship: 𝑇(𝐾) = 𝑇(𝐶°) + 273


Kelvin to Celsius Relationship: 𝑇(𝐶°) = 𝑇(𝐾) − 273
Phase Change
Phase Change – a period which all the physical & chemical properties of a substance changes

During a phase change, temperature and kinetic energy remains constant. Potential energy
changes

Specific Heat Capacity


Different materials absorb heat energy in different ways due to different densities and physical
properties

Specific Heat Capacity – The amount of energy/heat that’s needed to raise the substance of
mass per unit of temperature (by 1 K or 1 C) – Unit: Joules (J)
𝑄 = 𝑚𝑐∆𝑇 (Q = Heat, m = mass in kg, c = specific heat capacity Jkg-1K-1, T = temperature in K)

Specific Latent Heat


Latent heat means no temperature indication that heat is lost/gained by a substance

Latent heat – the amount of heat required to raise the substance of mass from Water
1 state to another without any temperature change – Unit: Joules (J)
𝑄 = 𝑚𝐿 (Q = Heat, m = mass in kg, L = specific heat heat Jkg-1) Specific Heat Capacity of
Ice: 2100 Jkg-1K-1
Specific Heat Capacity of
It could be broken down into Specific latent heat of fusion, Specific latent Water: 4200 Jkg-1K-1
heat of vaporization
Latent heat of fusion Lf (amount of heat needed to change solid to liquid) Latent Heat of Fusion of
Latent heat of vaporization Lv (amount of heat needed to change liquid to gas) Ice : 3.36 x 105 Jkg-1
Latent Heat of Vaporization
of Water : 2.25 x 106 Jkg-1
Energy 𝑚𝑐∆𝑇
Power = = – Units: Watts (W)
time 𝑡

𝑃𝑡
In Temperature vs Time graph, the slope represents specific heat capacity, 𝑐 = 𝑚∆𝑇
∆𝑇
𝑐 ∝ ( 𝑡 )−1, less steep graph shows higher specific heat capacity (Longer line indicates more
heat)
3.2 Modelling a gas KEY CONCEPTS
Mole/Molar Mass
Mole – defined as a substance/matter that contains 6.022 x 1023 molecules inside
Molar Mass - the mass of 1 mole of any element or compound

Avogardo’s Constant = 6.022 x 1023 molecules


𝑁
𝑛 = 𝑁𝐴 (n = moles, N = no. of atoms, NA = avogardo’s constant) Unit: mol

Pressure
Pressure – defined as normal force acting on per unit area
𝐹
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 𝐴 (P = pressure, F = Force, A = Area) Units: Pascals or Nm-2

The molecule is exerting equal and opposite force

𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 𝑝𝑔ℎ (P = pressure, p = density, g = 9.81 ms-2 h = height)


Air pressure in pipes: pa = p0 + h

Ideal Gas VS Real Gas


Ideal Gas – an imaginary gas that’s used to model real gases
IDEAL GAS REAL GAS
Has Identical Perfect Sphere (Volume can be Not identical perfect sphere
negligible)
Collision between molecules are perfectly Collision between molecules are inelastic
elastic (No change in Kinetic Energy) (Kinetic Energy changes)
No Intermolecular force Has intermolecular force
Has a range of speeds and moves in random Relatively large in terms of it’s size
motion
Real gas may be approximated by an ideal gas when the density is low, high volume, low
pressure and high temperature

Kinetic model of an ideal gas


Temperature was a measure of the random kinetic energy of molecules for solids and liquids

If temperature of the gas increases, average speeds increases (KE increases)

If the speed of the molecules gets bigger, more collisions occur frequently
Pressure increases if speeds increase. Pressure is bigger if volume is smaller
Equations of Gas State
1. Pressure-Volume law (When temperature is constant)
Boyle’s law: Volume of a gas is inversely proportional to pressure
Isothermal process

𝑃1𝑉1 = 𝑃2𝑉2 (P = pressure, V = Volume)

2. Volume-Temperature law (When pressure is constant)


Charles law: If we have a beaker and push with piston. When it’s heated, it will expand against
the piston (bigger volume, when temperature increases)
Isobarbic process

Work done by expanding gas: 𝑊 = 𝑝∆𝑉


𝑉1 𝑉2
= (T = Temperature, V = Volume)
𝑇1 𝑇2

3. Pressure-Temperature law (when volume is constant)


Gay Lussac’s law: Pressure of the gas will increase when there’s increase in temperature
Isovolumetric process
𝑃1 𝑃2
= 𝑇2 (T = Temperature, P = Pressure)
𝑇1

Ideal Gas Equation


Equation of state for ideal gas: 𝑝𝑉 = 𝑛𝑅𝑇
(p – pressure, V – volume, n – moles, R – 8.31 J/mol, T – temperature in Kelvin)
𝑃1𝑉1 𝑃2𝑉2
Combined Gas Law Equation: 𝑇1
= 𝑇2
(P = Pressure, T = Temperature, V = Volume)

Boltzmann Equation/Average Kinetic Energy


Since ideal gases have no intermolecular forces, their internal energy is stored completely as
kinetic energy
3 3𝑅𝑇
Average kinetic energy: 𝐸𝑘 = 2 𝑘𝐵𝑇 = 2𝑁𝐴 Unit: Joules (J)
kB (Boltzmann Constant) = 1.38 x 10-23 J, T = Temperature in Kelvin, R = 8.31 J/mol
𝑅
𝑘𝐵 = 𝑁𝐴

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