Thermal Physics

Absolute temperature

A temperature value relative to absolute zero.

Absolute zero

The lowest possible temperature of a system, where no heat

remains and the particles in the system have no kinetic energy.

Avogadro constant

The number of particles that make up one mole of any gas.

Boltzmann constant

A constant relating the average kinetic energy of the

particles in a gas, to the gas’ temperature.

Boyle’s law

The pressure of an ideal gas is inversely proportional to its volume

when held at constant temperature.

Brownian motion

The random motion of particles.

Change of phase

The transitions between solids, liquids and gases. During a

change of phase, there is a change of internal energy but not temperature.

Equation of state of an Ideal gas

An equation linking pressure, volume, number

of moles, temperature and the ideal gas constant.

Gas

A phase of matter in which the particles are high energy and free to move.

Gases will fill the space they are placed in.

Internal energy

The sum of the randomly distributed kinetic and potential

energies of the particles in a given system.

Kelvin

The unit of absolute temperature.

Liquid

A phase of matter in which the particles can slide over each other, but still

have forces of attraction between each other.

Solid

A phase of matter in which the particles can only vibrate about fixed

positions, due to strong intermolecular forces.

Specific heat capacity

The amount of energy required to increase the

temperature of 1kg of a substance by 1 Kelvin.

Specific latent heat

The amount of energy required to change the state of 1kg

of a substance without a change of temperature.

Thermal equilibrium

A stable state in which there is no thermal heat transfer

between two regions.