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IB Physics Revision Notes On Thermal Physics

The document discusses the particulate nature of matter and the three states of matter - solids, liquids, and gases. It describes their properties including arrangement of particles, movement, energy, shape, volume, and compressibility. Thermal expansion and changes in internal energy that occur when heating each state are also covered.

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Theodore Kim
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
12 views

IB Physics Revision Notes On Thermal Physics

The document discusses the particulate nature of matter and the three states of matter - solids, liquids, and gases. It describes their properties including arrangement of particles, movement, energy, shape, volume, and compressibility. Thermal expansion and changes in internal energy that occur when heating each state are also covered.

Uploaded by

Theodore Kim
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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IB Physics Notes on the Particulate Nature of Matter

Molecular Theory in different states of matter

The 3 states of matter:


- Solids
- Liquids
- Gases

Solid Liquid Gas

Diagram

Arrangement of Packed closely in an Packed closely in a Far apart in a


particles orderly arrangement disorderly disorderly
arrangement arrangement

Forces of Very strong Strong Weak intermolecular


attraction between intermolecular intermolecular forces of attraction
particles forces of attraction forces of attraction

Movement of Vibrate in a fixed Slide past each Move randomly and


particles position other freely

Energy Particles have Particles have Particles have the


relatively little relatively more most kinetic energy
kinetic energy kinetic energy

Shape Fixed shape No fixed shape - No fixed shape -


takes the shape of expands to occupy
the container it the space available
occupies

Volume Fixed volume Fixed volume No fixed volume

Compressibility Cannot be Cannot be Can be compressed


compressed compressed

Fluidity Particles vibrate in Particles vibrate, Particles vibrate,


fixed positions rotate, and move rotate, and move
around each other around faster than in
a liquid
When a solid is heated:
- Particles gain energy and move further apart, weakening the intermolecular forces.
- Hence, thermal expansion occurs in the solid.
- For the same temperature increase, substances in solid phase expand less than
substances in liquid & gaseous phases.

When a liquid is heated:


- Particles gain energy and move further apart, weakening the intermolecular forces.
- Hence, thermal expansion occurs in the liquid.
- For the same temperature increase, substances in liquid phase expand more than
substances in solid phase but less than substances in gaseous phase.

When a gas is heated:


- Particles can flow and fully fill their container.
- Volume can be changed by changing the pressure & temperature
- For the same temperature increase, substances in gaseous phase undergo the largest
thermal expansion.

Internal Energy

Internal Energy – sum of the kinetic energy and intermolecular potential energy.

Particles that have kinetic energy also experience intermolecular forces, which, in turn, give rise
to intermolecular potential energy.

As the kinetic energy in particles increases, the particles spread further apart and their potential
energy also increases. This causes them to have higher internal energy.

Density

Density – mass per unit volume of a substance


Unit: kilograms per m3 (kg m-3)

ρ = density (kg m-3)


m = mass (kg)
V = volume (m3)
Conversion between SI units:

mm3 = m3 x 10003
cm3 = m3 x 1003

Temperature scales

- Temperature tells us the direction of net thermal energy transfer.


- Pressure and volume of a gas are directly proportional to the absolute temperature.
PV = nRT

- temperature (K) = temperature (°C) + 273 / temperature (°C) = temperature (K) − 273
- Absolute zero is the lowest possible temperature (0 K) at which the pressure and volume
of a gas are zero and the particles have zero kinetic energy.
- ΔT(°C) = ΔT(K), so temperature changes are equivalent on both scales regardless of the
unit.
Measuring Temperature

Thermometers are used to measure temperature.

Types of thermometers:
- Liquid-in-glass thermometer
- Must be calibrated (to ensure accuracy)

- Digital thermometer
- Uses a thermistor whose resistance depends on the temperature

Absolute Temperature and the Kinetic Energy of particles

Kinetic energy of particles is directly proportional to its absolute temperature.

Formula for average kinetic energy: EK = 3/2 kBT

EK = average kinetic energy (J)


kB = Boltzmann constant = 1.38 x 10-23 J K-1
T = absolute temperature (K)
Specific Heat Capacity

Specific heat capacity – amount of energy needed to increase the temperature of 1 kg of a


substance by 1 K

Substances made up of the same material have the same specific heat capacity.

Formula for specific heat capacity: Q = mc∆T

Q = thermal energy (J)


m = mass of substance (kg)
c = specific heat capacity (Jkg-1K-1)
∆T = change in temperature (°C or K)

Phase change

Heating a substance in the same phase:


- Energy supplied is transferred to kinetic energy of particles.
- Increases the temperature of the substance.

During a phase change:


- All supplied energy is transferred to potential energy of particles, not kinetic.
- The energy given to particles helps them overcome intermolecular forces of attraction.
- This allows particles to move further apart, causing the substance volume to expand.
- Temperature of the substance remains constant during phase change.
During the same phase:
- Both EP and EK increase, hence temperature increases.

During a phase change:


- Horizontal straight line
- All the energy supplied is used to increase EP, so ∆EK = 0, hence ∆T = 0.

Specific Latent Heat

Specific Latent Heat – amount of energy required to change the phase of 1 kg of a substance at
constant temperature.

Specific latent heat of fusion (Lf) – amount of energy required to change the phase of 1 kg of a
substance at constant temperature from solid to liquid.

Specific latent heat of vaporisation (LV) – amount of energy required to change the phase of 1
kg of a substance at constant temperature from liquid to gas
Equation for the energy required: Q = mL

Q = energy (J)
m = mass of substance heated (kg)
L = specific latent heat of fusion/vaporisation (J kg-1)

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