Thermal Energy Concepts

Molecular Theory and States of Matter

• Solids:
  • Fixed shape and fixed volume.
  • Molecules vibrate with respect to each other.
• Liquids:
  • No fixed shape but fixed volume.
  • Molecules vibrate.
• Gases:
  • No fixed shape and no fixed volume.
  • Molecules bounce around.

Visual Representation using PHET Simulations

• Neon (Ne):
  • Demonstrates solid, liquid, and gas states.
  • Molecules vibrate in all states.
• Water (H2O):
  • Solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (steam) states.

Temperature Scales: Celsius and Kelvin

• Celsius (°C):
  • 0°C: Freezing point of water.
  • 100°C: Boiling point of water.
• Kelvin (K):
  • 0 K: Absolute zero (theoretically the coldest temperature).
  • 0°C = 273 K

Kelvin-Celsius Conversion

• Equation (from data booklet):
  • T(K) = T(°C) + 273
• Exam Tip:
  • Change in temperature (\Delta T) is the same in Celsius and Kelvin.
  • Use Kelvin for actual temperature (T) calculations.

Density

• Definition:
  • \rho = \frac{m}{V}, where \rho is density, m is mass, and V is volume.
• Units:
  • Mass (m): kilograms (kg).
  • Volume (V): meters cubed (m^3).
  • Density ($\rho$): kilograms per meter cubed (kg/m^3).

Temperature Definition

• Temperature: Average kinetic energy of the molecules.
• Kinetic Energy:
  • Ek = \frac{1}{2}mv^2, where Ek is kinetic energy, m is mass, and v is velocity.
• Relationship:
  • Hotter: Faster moving molecules.
  • Cooler: Slower moving molecules.
  • Same Temperature: Same average kinetic energy and speed.

Average Kinetic Energy Equation

• Equation:
  • Ek = \frac{3}{2}kB T, where Ek is average kinetic energy, kB is Boltzmann constant, and T is temperature in Kelvin.
• Boltzmann's Constant (k_B):
  • k_B = 1.38 \times 10^{-23} J/K (from data booklet).
  • Units: Joules per Kelvin (J/K).

Animation Reinforcement

• Cooling a gas:
  • Temperature decreases.
  • Particles move slower.
  • At near zero Kelvin, particles move very slowly.

Heat

• Definition: Transfer of energy between a system and its surroundings.
• Variable: q
• Units: Joules (J)
• Direction: Flows naturally from hot to cold.
• Analogy: If air conditioning is on a hot air will go to the cold air.

Internal Energy

• Definition: Total sum of intermolecular potential energy and kinetic energy due to random motion.
• Variable: U
• Units: Joules (J).
• Components:
  • Kinetic Energy (due to motion).
  • Potential Energy (due to intermolecular forces).
• Equation (conceptual):
  • U = KE + PE