Faculty of Science

Objectives

To acquire a deep understanding of: thermodynamic cycles and equations of state, the first and second laws of thermodynamics as well as kinetic theory of gases and properties of materials.

Contents

Temperature: macroscopic and microscopic variables, Zeroth law of thermodynamics, Temperature scales and thermometers, The gas thermometer; Equations of state: the ideal gas, Heat, work and the first law of thermodynamics, Heat capacity and specific heat capacity, First law of thermodynamics, Work and PV diagrams of a gas, The equipartition of energy, Thermal properties and processes, Thermal expansion, Change of phase and latent heat, Van der Waal’s equation and liquid vapour isotherms and heat transfer, Availability of energy, Heat engines and the second law of thermodynamics, Reversibility, Carnot engine, Absolute temperature scale, Entropy, Entropy change, Entropy and availability of energy, Molecular interpretation of entropy; Structure of matter: Interaction of molecules, Interaction with walls (gaseous state), interaction with cohesive molecules in their place (solid state); Structure of liquids: surface tension phenomenon, Solid state physics – kinds of crystal lattices, Defects in crystals and heat capacity.