Topic 3 Thermal Physics

3.1 Thermal Concepts

3.1.1

State that temperature determines the direction of thermal energy transfer

between two bodies in thermal contact.

3.1.2

State the relationship between the Kelvin and Celsius scales of temperature.

3.1.3

T (K) = T (C) + 273.15

The lowest possible temperature on the absolute scale is zero degrees Kelvin,
0K. It is not possible to achieve a lower temperature. On the Celsius scale
the lowest possible temperature is -273.15 C.

State that the internal energy of a substance is the total potential energy and
random kinetic energy of the molecules of the substance.

3.1.4

Temperature is a measure of the hotness or coldness of a substance.

If an object is in thermal equilibrium with another object, this implies that
they have the same temperature; there is no net heat flow from one object to
the other.
A thermometer acts in this manner: while the thermometer reading is
changing, there is a thermal interaction between the two bodies; when the
reading takes on a constant value, the two bodies are in thermal equilibrium.
The temperature of the two bodies is the same, and therefore the reading of
the thermometer is also the temperature of the unknown.

The internal (thermal) energy (U) of a body is the total energy associated
with the thermal motions of the molecules, whether of molecular vibrations
in a solid or translation in a gas. It can comprise both kinetic and potential
energies associated with the molecular motions and the forces between the
molecules.
Molecular kinetic energy is due to random translation/vibration/rotation
Molecular potential energy arises from the forces between the molecules

Explain and distinguish between the macroscopic concepts of temperature,

internal energy and thermal energy (heat).

Temperature is regarded as a measure of hotness or coldness as measured

quantitatively by a thermometer; 0C freezing point of water (solid/liquid in
equilibrium); 100C boiling point of water (liquid/gas in equilibrium);
reducing ambient pressure will lower boiling point of a liquid
On the microscopic view, temperature (macroscopic) is regarded as a
measure of the average kinetic energy per molecule associated with the
thermal motions.

3.1.5

The term heat represents energy transfer due to a temperature difference, and
occurs from higher to lower temperature regions. Sometimes the term
heating is used to represent the transfer process, and therefore refers to the
thermal interaction of two or more systems. (Joule)Thermal energy refers to
the non-mechanical transfer of energy between a system and its surroundings
Temperature, heat and internal energy can all be visualized and interpreted in
terms of the particle model of matter, and particle interactions and thermal
motion.

Define the terms mole and molar mass.

One mole of any substance contains the same number of molecules,

Avogadros number
The number of moles of a gas can be found by dividing the total number of
molecules by Avogadros number:
n = N / NA

The number of moles of a substance can also be found by dividing the mass
by the atomic mass.
e.g. How many grams are there in a quantity of oxygen gas containing 1.20 x
1025 molecules?

3.1.6

Define the Avogadro constant.

NA = 6.02 x 1023 molecules mol -1