Thermal Physics

State that temperature determines the direction of thermal energy transfer between two objects

TEMPERATURE: A measurement of how hot an object is. A scalar quantity. If two objects have the same temperature, there will be no net heat flow between them. Its also the average molecular kinetic energy.
State the relation between the Kelvin and Celsius scales of temperature.

ABSOLUTE ZERO: The lowest temperature possible. -273.16C or zero kelvin (0K). Kelvin is the absolute thermodynamic temperature scale. K=C+273 C=K-273
State that the internal energy of a substance is the total potential energy and random kinetic energy of the molecules of the substance.

INTERNAL ENERGY: The energy contained in an object due to the random KE and PE of the molecules.

Explain and distinguish between the macroscopic concepts of temperature, internal energy and thermal energy (heat).

THERMAL ENERGY: Energy that is transferred from one body to another due to temperature difference. .

Define the mole and molar mass.

MOLE: The amount of a substance that contains the same number of particles as there are atoms in 12g of carbon-12. MOLAR MASS: The mass of 1 mole of a substance. eg molar mass of water is 18g

Define the Avogadro constant.

AVOGADRO CONSTANT: The number of particles in a mole. A=602 x 10

Define specific heat capacity and thermal capacity.

23

THERMAL CAPACITY: The amount of thermal energy required to raise the temperature of an object by 1K. SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY: The amount of thermal energy required to raise the temperature of 1kg of a substance by 1K. Solve problems involving specific heat capacities and thermal capacities Q=mc

Explain the physical differences between the solid, liquid, and gaseous phases in terms of molecular structure and particle motion Attraction of molecules, gives rise to potential energy, thus to separate molecules from one another they must be provided with energy. Motion of molecules, gives rise to kinetic energy. Structure of solids: Molecules held in place, because PE is large compared to KE. Separation is large compared to amplitude of vibrations. Structure of solid can be of several types (cubic, hexagonal, etc) depending on the shape of the molecules, strength of forces between molecules, etc. Structure of fluids (liquids and gasses): Liquids are similar to solids at any instant, because the distance between the molecules is similar to solids at any instant. But in liquids the molecules have too much kinetic energy to remain in a fixed position and so move past each other with ease. This liquids can change shape under stretching and shear forces, but remain unchanged under compression. Gas molecules have more KE again and so their pattern of movement is nothing like that of a solid. It is random and fast.

Describe and explain the process of phase changes in terms of molecular behavior

Specific latent heat of fusion: The energy per unit mass required to change the substance from a solid to a liquid. Specific latent heat of vaporization: The energy per unit mass required to change the substance from a liquid to a gas.
In both cases The specific latent heat is given by Q = mLf

Q = mLv

Explain in terms of molecular behavior why temperature does not change during a phase change

The heat supplied goes only into changing the substance's state, not its temperature
Distinguish between evaporation and boiling.

EVAPORATION: The process by which faster-moving molecules escape from the surface of a liquid. This results in a cooling of the liquid. BOILING: The process by which a liquid changes into a solid at the constant temperature of the boiling point.

Define specific latent heat.

SPECIFIC LATENT HEAT: The amount of thermal energy required to change the state of 1kg of a substance without a change in temperature. SLH of fusion is solid to liquid; SLH of vaporization is liquid to gas

KINETIC MODEL OF AN IDEAL GAS

Define pressure. PRESSURE: The force exerted per unit area. Measured in Pascals.