Thermodynamics

1. Explain the basic concepts and laws of thermodynamics.
2. Apply mathematical tools to solve thermodynamic problems.
3. Describe different methods of temperature measurement and heat transfer.
4. Analyze the performance of heat engines and refrigerators.
5. Understand the behavior of matter during phase transitions.
6. Explain phenomena at low temperatures, such as superconductivity and superfluidity.

13 weeks, about 61 hours in total. Yours will differ.

1. Week 1Module 1:

   • Unit 1: Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics · 4 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 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..

2. Week 2Module 1:

   • Unit 3: Measurement of Temperature · 4 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 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..

3. Week 3Module 2:

   • Unit 1: First Law of Thermodynamics · 4 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)..

4. Week 4Module 2:

   • Unit 2: Consequences of the First Law of Thermodynamics · 4 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..

5. Week 5Module 2:

   • Unit 3: Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics · 4 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..

6. Week 6Module 2:

   • Unit 4: Heat Engines · 4 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)..

7. Week 7Module 2:

   • Unit 5: Refrigerators · 4 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)..

8. Week 8Module 3:

   • Unit 1: Combined First and Second Laws · 4 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..

9. Week 9Module 3:

   • Unit 2: Thermodynamic Potentials · 4 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..

10. Week 10Module 3:

    • Unit 3: Maxwell Relations · 4 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..

11. Week 11Module 3:

    • Unit 4: TdS Equations · 4 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..

12. Week 12Module 4:

    • Unit 2: Throttling Process and Free Expansion of a Gas · 4 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..

13. Week 13Module 4:

    • Unit 3: Production of Low Temperature · 4 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 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..