Physics Lecture on Heat Transfer and Electromagnetic Radiation

A set of flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on heat transfer and electromagnetic radiation, including definitions and principles important for understanding thermodynamics and quantum mechanics.

Heat Transfer

The process of thermal energy moving from one object or material to another.

Q = c s × m × Δt

The formula used to calculate the heat transfer where Q is the heat energy, c s is the specific heat capacity, m is the mass, and Δt is the change in temperature.

Hess's Law

A principle stating that the total enthalpy change for a reaction is the same, regardless of how the reaction occurs.

Enthalpy of Formation (ΔH_f)

The heat change associated with the formation of one mole of a compound from its elements in their standard states.

Standard State

The reference condition for a substance, typically at 1 atm pressure and a specified temperature, usually 25 degrees Celsius.

Thermodynamic Properties

Data provided in tables that describe the energy characteristics of substances typically found in textbooks.

Delta H (ΔH)

The change in enthalpy during a reaction or process, measured in kilojoules per mole.

Quantum Mechanics

The branch of physics that describes the behavior of matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic levels.

Wavelength (λ)

The distance between successive peaks of a wave, usually expressed in meters.

Frequency (ν)

The number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit of time, measured in hertz (Hz).

Photon

A quantum of light or electromagnetic radiation that carries energy proportional to its frequency.

Planck's Constant (h)

A fundamental constant that relates the energy of a photon to its frequency, approximately equal to 6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J·s.

Constructive Interference

When two waves combine to produce a wave of greater amplitude.

Destructive Interference

When two waves overlap and cancel each other out, resulting in a smaller amplitude or no wave.

Bohr Model

A model of the atom where electrons orbit the nucleus in defined energy levels.

Photoelectric Effect

The phenomenon where electrons are emitted from a material when it absorbs light of a certain frequency.

Black Body Radiation

The theoretical spectrum of radiation emitted by an ideal black body that absorbs all incident electromagnetic radiation.

Quantum Oven

A conceptual model used to explain the quantized nature of energy levels, where energy is absorbed or emitted in discrete amounts.