Thermal Physics Notes

Kinetic Theory of Matter

Describes matter from both external (shape, volume, mass, temperature, pressure) and internal perspectives (molecular behavior). Explanations often require descriptions in terms of molecules or particles.

States of Matter

  • Solids: Fixed shape and volume. Molecules have very small spaces, regular arrangement, vibrate in fixed positions, and strong bonds.

  • Liquids: Fixed volume, shape adapts to the container. Molecules have small spaces, random arrangement, slide over each other, and strong bonds.

  • Gases: No fixed shape or volume. Molecules are far apart, no arrangement, move freely and fast, and have weak bonds.

Temperature

Defined as the average kinetic energy of molecules in a substance.

Temperature Scales

  • Celsius (°C): Has negative values.

  • Kelvin (K): Absolute temperature scale, no negative values. 0 K is absolute zero.

Absolute Zero

Lowest possible temperature where particles have minimal kinetic energy ($-273°Coror0 K).</p><h4id="0de4d4143c264585b71b126650118ae8"datatocid="0de4d4143c264585b71b126650118ae8"collapsed="false"seolevelmigrated="true">CelsiustoKelvinConversion</h4><ul><li><p>CelsiustoKelvin:).</p><h4 id="0de4d414-3c26-4585-b71b-126650118ae8" data-toc-id="0de4d414-3c26-4585-b71b-126650118ae8" collapsed="false" seolevelmigrated="true">Celsius to Kelvin Conversion</h4><ul><li><p>Celsius to Kelvin:K = °C + 273</p></li><li><p>KelvintoCelsius:</p></li><li><p>Kelvin to Celsius:°C = K - 273</p></li></ul><h3id="4d655a4adfbf4fdaa9dd2a611127c589"datatocid="4d655a4adfbf4fdaa9dd2a611127c589"collapsed="false"seolevelmigrated="true">ChangesofState</h3><ul><li><p>Melting:Solidtoliquid.</p></li><li><p>Boiling:Liquidtogas.</p></li><li><p>Condensation:Gastoliquid.</p></li><li><p>Freezing/Solidification:Liquidtosolid.</p></li></ul><p>Meltingandfreezingoccuratthemeltingpoint;boilingandcondensationoccurattheboilingpoint.</p><h4id="5fd1744fcc814f30ab1a55c5bf4e8ac5"datatocid="5fd1744fcc814f30ab1a55c5bf4e8ac5"collapsed="false"seolevelmigrated="true">HeatingCurve</h4><p>Temperatureremainsconstantduringmeltingandboilingasenergyisusedtobreakbondsbetweenmolecules,nottoincreasekineticenergy.</p><h3id="4b097cfc91154c138b0f9a1a50afcfcf"datatocid="4b097cfc91154c138b0f9a1a50afcfcf"collapsed="false"seolevelmigrated="true">Evaporationvs.Boiling</h3><ul><li><p><strong>Evaporation:</strong>Occursatanytemperature,involvesonlythemostenergeticmoleculesonthesurface,coolstheremainingliquid.</p></li><li><p><strong>Boiling:</strong>Occursattheboilingpoint,formsbubblesthroughouttheliquid,temperatureremainsconstant.</p></li></ul><h4id="29d1d2cb048d4513a3970551d361d7cb"datatocid="29d1d2cb048d4513a3970551d361d7cb"collapsed="false"seolevelmigrated="true">FactorsIncreasingEvaporationRate</h4><p>Increasingtemperature,increasingsurfacearea,aircurrents.</p><h3id="f660eb19174e4fadafef192e74061cfd"datatocid="f660eb19174e4fadafef192e74061cfd"collapsed="false"seolevelmigrated="true">AbsoluteZero</h3><p>Lowestpossibletemperaturewhereparticleshavetheleastkineticenergy.</p><h3id="faab6fefd328439c8619a3d1d4dbdd39"datatocid="faab6fefd328439c8619a3d1d4dbdd39"collapsed="false"seolevelmigrated="true">ThermalExpansion</h3><p>Increaseinvolumeofasubstanceduetoincreasedtemperature.</p><p>Moleculesmovefasterandfartherapart,butmoleculesthemselvesdonotexpand.</p><h4id="e0b5e10faac749a79b8d2563e3e0697b"datatocid="e0b5e10faac749a79b8d2563e3e0697b"collapsed="false"seolevelmigrated="true">FactorsAffectingExpansion:</h4><ul><li><p>Temperature.</p></li><li><p>Initialvolume.</p></li><li><p>State(gasesexpandmorethanliquids,liquidsmorethansolids).</p></li></ul><h4id="29dca6e498f14de18e98232f603168e6"datatocid="29dca6e498f14de18e98232f603168e6"collapsed="false"seolevelmigrated="true">UsesofThermalExpansion</h4><p>Thermometers,fittingringsonwheels(heatingexpandsthering),bimetallicstrips(usedinthermostatsandfirealarms).</p><h4id="74a7dfada6964c218ae2fd90984b3117"datatocid="74a7dfada6964c218ae2fd90984b3117"collapsed="false"seolevelmigrated="true">ProblemsCausedbyThermalExpansion</h4><p>Deformationofrailwaytracks(solvedbyleavinggaps),bridges/roads(expansionjoints),andelectriccables(sagginginsummer,contractioninwinter).</p><h3id="ffee6d8ae3b14acabdfd442fd77c9220"datatocid="ffee6d8ae3b14acabdfd442fd77c9220"collapsed="false"seolevelmigrated="true">Gases</h3><h4id="0775470de92a463b991fc2d7c3093995"datatocid="0775470de92a463b991fc2d7c3093995"collapsed="false"seolevelmigrated="true">BrownianMotion</h4><p>Randomandjerkymovementofsmokeparticles(orpollengrainsinwater)duetocollisionswithairmolecules.</p><h4id="57a55a0870db4d2fab7fcec2f659283d"datatocid="57a55a0870db4d2fab7fcec2f659283d"collapsed="false"seolevelmigrated="true">GasPressure</h4><p>Gasparticlescollidewithcontainerwalls,experiencingachangeinmomentum.Thischangeinmomentumovertimeappliesforce,andforceoverareaequalspressure.</p><h5id="e568d0d3d7514f7fa157b5313697318d"datatocid="e568d0d3d7514f7fa157b5313697318d"collapsed="false"seolevelmigrated="true">FactorsAffectingGasPressure</h5><ul><li><p><strong>Temperature:</strong>(atconstantvolume)Increasedtemperatureleadstofaster,morefrequentcollisions,increasingpressure(directlyproportional).</p></li><li><p><strong>Volume:</strong>(atconstanttemperature)Decreasedvolumeleadstomorefrequentcollisions,increasingpressure(inverselyproportional).</p></li></ul><h5id="51f08c1d4e6a46bb91663606c866f4a2"datatocid="51f08c1d4e6a46bb91663606c866f4a2"collapsed="false"seolevelmigrated="true">BoylesLaw</h5><p></p></li></ul><h3 id="4d655a4a-dfbf-4fda-a9dd-2a611127c589" data-toc-id="4d655a4a-dfbf-4fda-a9dd-2a611127c589" collapsed="false" seolevelmigrated="true">Changes of State</h3><ul><li><p>Melting: Solid to liquid.</p></li><li><p>Boiling: Liquid to gas.</p></li><li><p>Condensation: Gas to liquid.</p></li><li><p>Freezing/Solidification: Liquid to solid.</p></li></ul><p>Melting and freezing occur at the melting point; boiling and condensation occur at the boiling point.</p><h4 id="5fd1744f-cc81-4f30-ab1a-55c5bf4e8ac5" data-toc-id="5fd1744f-cc81-4f30-ab1a-55c5bf4e8ac5" collapsed="false" seolevelmigrated="true">Heating Curve</h4><p>Temperature remains constant during melting and boiling as energy is used to break bonds between molecules, not to increase kinetic energy.</p><h3 id="4b097cfc-9115-4c13-8b0f-9a1a50afcfcf" data-toc-id="4b097cfc-9115-4c13-8b0f-9a1a50afcfcf" collapsed="false" seolevelmigrated="true">Evaporation vs. Boiling</h3><ul><li><p><strong>Evaporation:</strong> Occurs at any temperature, involves only the most energetic molecules on the surface, cools the remaining liquid.</p></li><li><p><strong>Boiling:</strong> Occurs at the boiling point, forms bubbles throughout the liquid, temperature remains constant.</p></li></ul><h4 id="29d1d2cb-048d-4513-a397-0551d361d7cb" data-toc-id="29d1d2cb-048d-4513-a397-0551d361d7cb" collapsed="false" seolevelmigrated="true">Factors Increasing Evaporation Rate</h4><p>Increasing temperature, increasing surface area, air currents.</p><h3 id="f660eb19-174e-4fad-afef-192e74061cfd" data-toc-id="f660eb19-174e-4fad-afef-192e74061cfd" collapsed="false" seolevelmigrated="true">Absolute Zero</h3><p>Lowest possible temperature where particles have the least kinetic energy.</p><h3 id="faab6fef-d328-439c-8619-a3d1d4dbdd39" data-toc-id="faab6fef-d328-439c-8619-a3d1d4dbdd39" collapsed="false" seolevelmigrated="true">Thermal Expansion</h3><p>Increase in volume of a substance due to increased temperature.</p><p>Molecules move faster and farther apart, but molecules themselves do not expand.</p><h4 id="e0b5e10f-aac7-49a7-9b8d-2563e3e0697b" data-toc-id="e0b5e10f-aac7-49a7-9b8d-2563e3e0697b" collapsed="false" seolevelmigrated="true">Factors Affecting Expansion:</h4><ul><li><p>Temperature.</p></li><li><p>Initial volume.</p></li><li><p>State (gases expand more than liquids, liquids more than solids).</p></li></ul><h4 id="29dca6e4-98f1-4de1-8e98-232f603168e6" data-toc-id="29dca6e4-98f1-4de1-8e98-232f603168e6" collapsed="false" seolevelmigrated="true">Uses of Thermal Expansion</h4><p>Thermometers, fitting rings on wheels (heating expands the ring), bimetallic strips (used in thermostats and fire alarms).</p><h4 id="74a7dfad-a696-4c21-8ae2-fd90984b3117" data-toc-id="74a7dfad-a696-4c21-8ae2-fd90984b3117" collapsed="false" seolevelmigrated="true">Problems Caused by Thermal Expansion</h4><p>Deformation of railway tracks (solved by leaving gaps), bridges/roads (expansion joints), and electric cables (sagging in summer, contraction in winter).</p><h3 id="ffee6d8a-e3b1-4aca-bdfd-442fd77c9220" data-toc-id="ffee6d8a-e3b1-4aca-bdfd-442fd77c9220" collapsed="false" seolevelmigrated="true">Gases</h3><h4 id="0775470d-e92a-463b-991f-c2d7c3093995" data-toc-id="0775470d-e92a-463b-991f-c2d7c3093995" collapsed="false" seolevelmigrated="true">Brownian Motion</h4><p>Random and jerky movement of smoke particles (or pollen grains in water) due to collisions with air molecules.</p><h4 id="57a55a08-70db-4d2f-ab7f-cec2f659283d" data-toc-id="57a55a08-70db-4d2f-ab7f-cec2f659283d" collapsed="false" seolevelmigrated="true">Gas Pressure</h4><p>Gas particles collide with container walls, experiencing a change in momentum. This change in momentum over time applies force, and force over area equals pressure.</p><h5 id="e568d0d3-d751-4f7f-a157-b5313697318d" data-toc-id="e568d0d3-d751-4f7f-a157-b5313697318d" collapsed="false" seolevelmigrated="true">Factors Affecting Gas Pressure</h5><ul><li><p><strong>Temperature:</strong> (at constant volume) Increased temperature leads to faster, more frequent collisions, increasing pressure (directly proportional).</p></li><li><p><strong>Volume:</strong> (at constant temperature) Decreased volume leads to more frequent collisions, increasing pressure (inversely proportional).</p></li></ul><h5 id="51f08c1d-4e6a-46bb-9166-3606c866f4a2" data-toc-id="51f08c1d-4e6a-46bb-9166-3606c866f4a2" collapsed="false" seolevelmigrated="true">Boyle's Law</h5><p>PV = constantororP1V1 = P2V2</p><h3id="6c2b716973a9406799bab4ea790b16e0"datatocid="6c2b716973a9406799bab4ea790b16e0"collapsed="false"seolevelmigrated="true">SpecificHeatCapacity</h3><p>Energyneededtoraisethetemperatureof1kgofasubstanceby</p><h3 id="6c2b7169-73a9-4067-99ba-b4ea790b16e0" data-toc-id="6c2b7169-73a9-4067-99ba-b4ea790b16e0" collapsed="false" seolevelmigrated="true">Specific Heat Capacity</h3><p>Energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by1°Coror1 K.</p><h4id="c0dcef135fb24f23bb8a842782b5bc56"datatocid="c0dcef135fb24f23bb8a842782b5bc56"collapsed="false"seolevelmigrated="true">Formula</h4><p>.</p><h4 id="c0dcef13-5fb2-4f23-bb8a-842782b5bc56" data-toc-id="c0dcef13-5fb2-4f23-bb8a-842782b5bc56" collapsed="false" seolevelmigrated="true">Formula</h4><p>E = mcΔTwhereEisenergy,mismass,cisspecificheatcapacity,andwhere E is energy, m is mass, c is specific heat capacity, andΔT$$ is the change in temperature.

Experiment

Measure mass, initial and final temperatures, power, and time to determine specific heat capacity.

Sources of Error

Heat loss to surroundings; insulate to minimize.

Heat Transfer

Conduction

  • Nonmetals: Atoms vibrate and transfer heat to nearby atoms.

  • Metals: Also involve free-moving electrons that transfer heat to distant atoms. Metals are good conductors; insulators (plastic, wood) are bad conductors.

Convection

Hot liquids/gases expand, become less dense, and rise; cold liquids/gases are more dense and sink, creating convection currents.

Radiation

Heat transfer via electromagnetic waves (infrared). Everything emits infrared waves. Dull black surfaces are best at absorbing and emitting; shiny white surfaces are worst.

Constant Temperature

Indicates a balance between absorption and emission of radiation.

Vacuum Flask

Minimizes heat transfer: vacuum stops conduction and convection, silvered surfaces reduce radiation, lid prevents evaporation and convection.