Thermal Physics
Thermal Physics
Thermal Physics
TOPIC 2
THERMAL PHYSICS
THERMAL PHYSICS:
The branch of physics that study the temperature, heat energy and their relation to
the matter.
Temperature:
It is the degree of hotness of an object and it can be measured by thermometer.
Temperature can be express by Celsius (oC), Fahrenheit (oF) or K scale.
Heat:
It is the energy which travels from high temperature to low temperature in a matter.
It is also called thermal or internal energy. It is measured in joules (J).
MOLECULAR MODELS:
Matter is made up of atoms and molecules, which may only be seen by electronic
microscope.
STATES OF MATTER:
Objects that take up space and have mass are called matter. There are three states of
matter that is solids, liquids and gases. The properties of the particles are:
Solids
Liquids
Gases
little or no compression on
application of pressure
little or no compression on
application of pressure
Brownian motion:
Random movement of particle of liquids or gases is called Brownian motion. It was
discovered by Scottish Botanist Robert Brown in 1827. He observed that the fine
pollen grain on the surface of water are not stationary but moving about in a random
motion. This random motion of pollen grains caused by much smaller, invisible
faster moving water particles when they hit pollen grains from all direction. This
motion is called Brownian motion after the scientist who observed this phenomenon
for the first time.
IGCSE Physics 0625 notes for topic 2: Thermal Physics: Revised on: 14 September 2010
Boiling
Melting
Bubbles formed
No bubbles formed
Temperature o
Temperature o+
For solids = 3
Cubic Expansivities examples
Solid (copper) = 0.00005/ oC
Liquid (water) = 0.0002/ oC
Gas
= 0.0037/ oC
IGCSE Physics 0625 notes for topic 2: Thermal Physics: Revised on: 14 September 2010
2) The velocity and the number of collisions of these molecules increase with
the increase of temperature that is increase in kinetic energy of molecules, if
the volume of the gas kept constant.
3) Lowering the pressure decreases its temperature.
=
=
=
=
MEASUREMENT OF TEMPERATURE:
Volume of liquid is a physical property which varies with temperature. This property
of liquid may be used for the measurement of temperature. The daily life example is
thermometer. Two common liquids that are used in thermometers are
Mercury: It freezes at -39oC and boils at 357oC. It has low specific heat
capacity and it expands uniformly when heated. It doesnt stick to the glass.
Alcohol: It freezes at -115oC and boils at 78oC therefore it is suitable for low
range temperature. It is ideal for measuring atmospheric temperature. It
expands uniformly when heated. It is colored and therefore better visible.
Clinical Thermometer:
It is a special thermometer with scale at both sides of normal
body temperature. The special addition is the constriction that
breaks the mercury and we read the temperature. Normal body
temperature is 37oC.
Thermocouple Thermometer:
A thermocouple consists of wires of two different
materials e.g. copper and iron, joined together.
When one junction is at a higher temperature than
the other, an electric charge flows and produces a
current reading on a sensitive meter which
IGCSE Physics 0625 notes for topic 2: Thermal Physics: Revised on: 14 September 2010
Where c is the specific heat capacity, Q is the amount of heat energy in joules, m is
the mass of substance in grams or kilograms and is the change in temperature.
Specific heat capacity of water is very high compare to other substances. It is
4200J/(kg oC). It is useful in cooling car engines.
Thermal capacity:
The thermal capacity of a body is the quantity of heat needed to raise the
temperature of whole body by 1oC.
Thermal capacity = mass specific heat capacity
=mc
or
=
Internal energy:
Internal Energy is the energy stored in a system at the molecular level that is its
thermal energy. It is the kinetic energy of the atoms (or molecular) due to their
random motion plus the binding energy or electric potential energy that holds the
atoms (or molecular) together in terms of atomic bonds or intermolecular bond.
externally, normally as heat, and does not change the temperature. We call this
energy latent heat (the word "latent" means "invisible"). It is the energy released or
absorbed during a change of state without increasing the temperature.
=
LATENT HEAT OF
VAPORIZATION:
The change of state from
liquid to vapour at constant
temperature also requires the
input of energy, called the latent heat of vaporization. This implies that while a
liquid undergoes a change to the vapour state at the boiling point, the temperature of
the liquid will not rise beyond the temperature of the boiling point.
The latent heat of evaporation is the energy required to overcome the molecular
forces of attraction between the particles of a liquid in order to break their
intermolecular bonds, and bring them to the vapour state, where such attractions are
minimal.
Heating/cooling curves:
The diagram on the left shows the
uptake of heat energy by 1 kg of water,
as it passes from ice at -50 C to steam
at temperatures above 100 C, affects the
temperature of the sample.
A: Rise in temperature as ice absorbs
heat.
B: Absorption of latent heat of fusion.
C: Rise in temperature as liquid water
absorbs heat.
D: Water boils and absorbs latent heat
of vaporization.
IGCSE Physics 0625 notes for topic 2: Thermal Physics: Revised on: 14 September 2010
Conduction:
Conduction always occurs in solids. It is the heat
transfer by means of faster molecular motion within a
material without any shift of the material as a whole. If
one end of a metal rod is at a higher temperature, then
energy will be transferred towards the colder end
because the higher speed particles will collide with the slower ones with a net
transfer of energy to the slower ones. All metal
substances are good conductors.
Convection:
Convection is heat transfer by the motion of
fluid such as air or water when the heated fluid
is caused to move away from the source of heat,
carrying energy with it. Convection above a hot
surface occurs because hot air expands, becomes
less dense, and rises. Hot water is less dense
than cold water and rises, causing convection
currents which transfer energy.
Radiation:
Radiation is the heat transfer
without the presence of any
medium that is it can occur in
vacuum. Radiation is the flow
of heat from one place to
another by means of
electromagnetic waves.
10