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PHY207Sciences2 Unitsintermediate

Thermodynamics

This course explores the principles of thermodynamics, focusing on energy transfer, entropy, and the behavior of matter under varying conditions. It covers basic concepts, the laws of thermodynamics, and their applications in heat engines and refrigerators. Topics include temperature measurement, heat transfer mechanisms, thermodynamic potentials, and phase transitions. Students will learn to apply thermodynamic principles to solve practical problems and understand the behavior of systems at low temperatures.

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208h
Study Time
13
Weeks
16h
Per Week
intermediate
Math Level
Course Keywords
ThermodynamicsEntropyHeat TransferPhase TransitionsHeat Engines

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📊
Math Level
Moderate Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics

2

Differential Calculus

3

Temperature Measurement

4

Heat Transfer Mechanisms

5

First Law of Thermodynamics

6

Second Law of Thermodynamics

7

Heat Engines and Refrigerators

8

Thermodynamic Potentials

9

Maxwell Relations

10

Phase Transitions

11

Low Temperature Physics

Total Topics11 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Tutor-Marked Assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Computer Based Test

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Mechanical Engineer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Chemical Engineer

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Materials Scientist

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Research Scientist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Process Engineer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

Power GenerationRefrigerationMaterials ProcessingChemical EngineeringAerospace

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1:

7h

Unit 1: Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics

4 study hours
  • •Define thermodynamics and its scope.
  • •Explain the concepts of system, surrounding, and boundary.
  • •Identify and describe thermodynamic properties/coordinates.
  • •Differentiate between open, closed, and isolated systems.
  • •Describe various thermodynamic processes (adiabatic, isochoric, isobaric, isothermal).
  • •Explain the concept of thermodynamic equilibrium (mechanical, chemical, thermal).
  • •Define the state of a system and explain change of state.
  • •Write and explain the equation of state for an ideal gas and Van der Waals equation.
  • •Differentiate between extensive and intensive properties.

Unit 2: Differential Calculus

3 study hours
  • •Define partial derivatives and exact differentials.
  • •Apply partial derivative rules to thermodynamic functions.
  • •Solve problems involving implicit differentiation.
  • •Apply the product rule of three partial derivatives.
  • •Use the chain rule of partial derivatives.
  • •Calculate second derivatives and mixed second derivatives.
  • •Apply partial derivatives to functions of more than two variables.
Week
2

Module 1:

7h

Unit 3: Measurement of Temperature

4 study hours
  • •Define temperature and heat.
  • •Explain the zeroth law of thermodynamics.
  • •Describe different temperature scales (Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin).
  • •Perform conversions between temperature scales.
  • •Define thermometric property and explain different thermometers.
  • •Describe the calibration process for thermometers.
  • •Explain the working principles of thermocouple, resistance, and constant-volume gas thermometers.

Unit 4: Heat Transfer Mechanism

3 study hours
  • •Define heat energy and its transfer.
  • •Discuss the three methods of heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation).
  • •Explain the concepts of thermal conductors and insulators.
  • •Apply equations for heat transfer through materials.
  • •Define thermal resistance (R-value) and its significance.
  • •Describe heat transfer through composite materials.
  • •State and apply Newton's law of cooling.
Week
3

Module 2:

4h

Unit 1: First Law of Thermodynamics

4 study hours
  • •Define work and write expressions for work in different systems (wire, film, fluid, magnet, dielectric, chemical reaction).
  • •Calculate work done in a quasi-static process.
  • •Explain the relationship between work and internal energy.
  • •Define heat and heat transfer into or out of a system.
  • •State the first law of thermodynamics and its implications.
  • •Define response functions (heat capacities, force constant, thermal response).
  • •Write modified equations of the first law under different known processes (adiabatic, isochoric, cyclic, free expansion).
Week
4

Module 2:

4h

Unit 2: Consequences of the First Law of Thermodynamics

4 study hours
  • •Explain what is meant by energy equations.
  • •Derive expressions for CV in terms of derivative of U.
  • •Derive expressions for CP in terms of derivative of H.
  • •Explain Gay-Lussac-Joule and Joule-Thomson experiments.
  • •Write the expressions for Joule coefficient and Joule-Thomson coefficient.
  • •Apply the first law to reversible adiabatic processes.
Week
5

Module 2:

4h

Unit 3: Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics

4 study hours
  • •Define entropy and its significance.
  • •Write the equation for change in entropy during reversible and irreversible processes.
  • •State the second law of thermodynamics and its implications.
  • •Describe the Carnot cycle/engine and its components.
  • •Calculate the efficiency of a Carnot engine.
  • •Explain the relationship between entropy and the second law.
Week
6

Module 2:

4h

Unit 4: Heat Engines

4 study hours
  • •Name some of the available heat engines and draw the P-V diagram for each of them.
  • •Explain the processes involved in the cycle of a particular heat engine.
  • •Derive expression for efficiency for each of these heat engines (Otto, Stirling).
Week
7

Module 2:

4h

Unit 5: Refrigerators

4 study hours
  • •Describe refrigeration cycles and their components.
  • •Distinguish between refrigerator and heat pump.
  • •Explain what is meant by coefficient of performance of refrigerator.
  • •Derive expression for coefficient of performance for each of the refrigeration cycle (Carnot, Stirling).
Week
8

Module 3:

4h

Unit 1: Combined First and Second Laws

4 study hours
  • •Write the equation for combined first and second laws of thermodynamics.
  • •Derive some useful thermodynamics relations from the combine first and second laws.
  • •Apply combined laws to systems with T and V independent.
  • •Apply combined laws to systems with T and P independent.
  • •Apply combined laws to systems with P and V independent.
Week
9

Module 3:

4h

Unit 2: Thermodynamic Potentials

4 study hours
  • •Name all the thermodynamics potentials (internal energy, enthalpy, Helmholtz free energy, Gibbs free energy).
  • •Define each of the thermodynamic potentials.
  • •Derive differential forms of the thermodynamic potentials.
  • •Mention the process that each of these thermodynamic potentials can be used to describe.
Week
10

Module 3:

4h

Unit 3: Maxwell Relations

4 study hours
  • •Derive each of the four Maxwell's relations from the differential of the thermodynamics potentials.
  • •State the importance of these relations.
  • •Apply Maxwell's relations to thermodynamic problems.
Week
11

Module 3:

4h

Unit 4: TdS Equations

4 study hours
  • •Derive the three TdS equations.
  • •Write change in entropy for different reversible processes in term of directly measurable quantities.
  • •Apply TdS equations to thermodynamic calculations.
Week
12

Module 4:

4h

Unit 2: Throttling Process and Free Expansion of a Gas

4 study hours
  • •Explain throttling process and its applications.
  • •Show that the initial and final enthalpies during a throttling process are equal.
  • •Explain free expansion of a gas.
  • •Show that for free expansion of ideal gas at constant temperature, (∂U/∂V)T = 0.
Week
13

Module 4:

7h

Unit 3: Production of Low Temperature

4 study hours
  • •Discuss the process of cooling.
  • •Mention different methods being used to achieve low temperature.
  • •Discuss the process of cooling by adiabatic demagnetisation.
  • •Derive the expression for change in temperature with respect to field B at constant entropy i.e. (∂T/∂B)S.

Unit 4: Phenomena at Low Temperature and the Third Law of Thermodynamics

3 study hours
  • •Explain the meaning of low temperature physics.
  • •Explain some phenomenon at low temperature (superconductivity, superfluidity).
  • •Mention useful applications of low temperature phenomenon.
  • •State Nernst heat theorem.
  • •State third law of thermodynamics.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create concept maps linking thermodynamic laws and their applications.

2

Practice solving numerical problems from Units 5-7 on heat engines and refrigerators weekly.

3

Focus on understanding the derivations of Maxwell's relations in Units 10-11.

4

Review phase transition diagrams from Unit 14 and practice interpreting them.

5

Dedicate extra time to Units 16-17 on low-temperature physics and the third law.

6

Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and address any areas of weakness.

7

Create flashcards for key definitions and equations from each module.

8

Allocate specific time slots for revision in the weeks leading up to the exam.

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