EnglishFrançaisPortuguês

PHY 2104: Thermal Physics

| Print |
Share

Mode of Delivery

  • Online
  • Blended mode online and face to face
  • Face-to-face


1. Rationale

Physics is a study of Energy and its transformations. Heat is the most common form of energy that is transferred or transformed when bodies interact. This module will help you understand the concept of heat as a form of energy and the mechanisms related to its conversion and transformation. Conversion and transformation of heat has an effect of altering the temperature of the interacting systems. Temperature variation in turn has effects on our personal comfort and on substances that we use every day. The methods presented in this module have applications in almost all areas of professions. Daily temperature in weather forecast, medical professionals, craftsmen, technicians etc. monitor temperature for various purposes in various methods. You will develop skills of
measuring temperature and using them to analyze the laws of heat exchange and broader science of thermodynamic laws. Therefore inclusion of a module on thermal physics is justified by the above
mentioned facts.

2. Prerequisite or Knowledge

In order to study this module you need a good background of school physics at +2 level.

3. General objectives

After completing this module you will be able to

  • Appreciate that thermal physics involves the study of heat as a form of energy transfer and the application of energy conservation
  • Understand the concept of temperature, heat and internal energy
  • Understand the underlying basis of thermodynamics first law
  • Understand the properties of gases and use P-V-T diagrams
  • Understand kinetic theory of gases
  • Understand the second law of thermodynamics and entropy


4. Time
This module can be completed in 120hrs.

5. Materials

The following list identifies and describes the equipment necessary for all of the activities in this module. The quantities listed are required for each group.

  1.  
    1. Immersion heater- These are relatively inexpensive and readily available. Some have just the aluminum clad nichrome coils; others have an aluminum housing surrounding the coils. Considering their low cost and repeated use in four of this module’s activities it would be very wise to have one and back-up units.
    2. Balance - A beam or spring balance with a capacity of 500g and sensitivity of ± 0.1 g will be good enough. Some centigram balances have a capacity of 300g
    3. Styrofoam cups (2) - Get the 14 or 16 oz. size. These cups will be used greatly, so it would be wise to have extra cups on hand.
    4. Thermometer (1) - A regular -20 to110° C lab thermometer will suffice as long as students are cautioned that the bulb is fragile.
    5. Large container for water: