UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

MAE91 INTRODUCTION TO THERMODYNAMICS
10-Week Summer, 2016

Last document update: 3/14/2016

Instructor Franz Hernandez, Msc.
Email fhhernan@uci.edu
Office-hours Tu 5:00-6:00pm , Th 5:00-7:00 pm (Online/Conference) Link
Textbook Fundamentals of Thermodynamics. By Borgnakke and Sonntag, 8th Edition, Wiley.
Lectures Online
Website https://eee.uci.edu/?
Topics Thermodynamic principles; open and closed systems representative of engineering problems.
First and second law of thermodynamics with applications to engineering systems and design.
Note: The following is a link to find discounted versions of the book.
http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-816343.html (Links to an external site.)
Grading policy:
10% Homework (Online submission)
15% Quizzes (Online/Canvas): 7% Short, 8% Written.
30% Midterm (On campus OR online via ProctorU)
45% Final Exam (On campus OR online via ProctorU)
Academy dishonesty:
The learning environment at the University of California, Irvine is based on honesty and integrity.
Sustaining this environment requires all participants recognize the importance of maintaining the
highest ethical standards. It is critical that all student work be the sole work of each individual
student. The exams and quizzes you take in this course are to be taken by you and you alone, without
assistance. You may not print exams or quizzes, and you are to take them without assistance from
other people, printed materials, the Internet, your cell phone, or through any other method one might
use to gather information. Doing so constitutes academic dishonesty. Anyone caught cheating or in
any other way in violation of the university policy on academic honesty will receive an F in the course.
There are no exceptions to this rule, as I have zero-tolerance for all forms of academic dishonesty.
Remaining in the course assumes that you understand what academic honesty is, in all its varied
forms, and pledge not to engage in any type of dishonest conduct (which includes, but is not limited
to cheating, plagiarism, hacking, and dishonest conduct). Working in groups to solve the homework
or practice problems is encouraged, but just copying the work from others is considered academic
dishonesty. The purpose of the homeworks is to practice for quizzes and exams. Therefore, copying
solutions will strongly limit and deteriorate your capacity to solve problems. You, the student, are
required to know and understand the relevant policies regarding academic dishonesty. To this end,
you are required to carefully read the information found by following the link below. Additionally,
all participants in the course are also bound by the University of California Code of Conduct. The
relevant link is also below.
UCIs Academic Senate Policy on Academic Dishonesty (Link)
The University of California Code of Conduct (Link)
If you are unsure what constitutes plagiarism, visit this. (Link)
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Homework Format:
Write your homework as neatly as possible.
Copying the problem statement is not required, but you must provide the problem number and
state what is given and what is sought.
Draw a simple sketch to illustrate the problem when needed.
Write the solution step by step, starting from the basic equations and state your assumptions.
If more than one problem is solved in one page, do not solve them side by side (in columns).
Follow a horizontal block structure. Box your final answer.
Failure to follow the homework format will cost you points.
Homeworks are due on Sunday, at the end of the respective week. You are responsible for the
uploading process. If you fail to upload because you missed the deadline, either by seconds or days,
the assignment score is automatically zero. Therefore, make sure you upload your material with
sufficient time. Use the practice upload section and familiarize with the process.
Quizzes Information:
Each module has quizzes assigned on Friday of the respective week. In order to prepare yourself for
the quizzes, watching the videos, reading the textbook and/or Canvas (theory and examples) and
practicing as many problems as possible is encouraged. The schedule is posted at the end of this
syllabus.
The timing for both, the short quiz and the written quiz, will be announced (TBA). The "written"
quiz should be solved within 45min. Extra time is granted in order to complete your upload. More
information is provided in the modules.
There is an assignment that will allow you to practice the upload process in case you need.
Practice quizzes are not graded. Quizzes are an indicator of the level of difficulty in the midterm
and final exam.
Midterm and Final exam information:
The midterm exam covers topics from modules 1 through 3, including 3, and is scheduled for
Friday 22th of July in MSTB 124 if on campus or in ProctorU if online. The exam is starting at
5:00pm.
The final Exam is comprehensive but emphasizes in modules/weeks 5-10. It is schedule for Friday
26th of August in MSTB 124 or ProctorU. The exam is starting at 5:00pm.
Basic equations are provided.
IMPORTANT!!!! If you cannot take the proctored exam at the specified time using ProctorU or
on campus, you will have to drop the course. Check the times below. More information about the
midterm and the final exams is available in the Midterm and Final exam modules.
http://www.classrooms.uci.edu/gac/MSTB124.html

Course Information:
Course number ENGRMAE 91 Introduction to Thermodynamics (Online)
Course code 19046
Units 4.0
Prerequisite PHYSICS 7C and MATH 2D
Course Description:
Introductory concepts, definitions and system of units.
Properties: pressure, specific volume, temperature, energy. Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics.
Pure substance, T-v, P-v, P-v-T phase diagrams.
Equation of state: Ideal gas law.
Work, Heat and Devices.
First law of thermodynamics for a system.
First law of thermodynamics for a control volume.
Steady and unsteady flow processes.
Reversible and irreversible processes.
Second law of thermodynamics.
Entropy as a macroscopic property.
Second law of thermodynamics for a control mass and a control volume.
Entropy relations.
Ideal and real power cycles, efficiency.
Course Outcome
1. Identify the control mass and control volume in a thermodynamic problem.
2. Calculate properties of pure substances (solid, liquid, vapor, and saturated mixtures) using tables
or equations of state.
3. Apply the first law of thermodynamics (conservation of energy) and the second law of thermodynamics to control mass and control volume processes.
4. Map different processes on T-v, P-v and T-s diagrams.
5. Understand the Carnot (ideal) thermodynamic cycle and the limits on the thermal efficiency of
real thermodynamic cycles.
Approximate Outline
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week
Week

1: Introduction and fundamentals (Ch 1).

2: Use of properties and tables (Ch 2)
3-4: First law for closed systems (Ch 3).
4-5: First law for open systems (Ch 4).
5: Midterm Exam (modules 1-3).
6: Introduction to the second law (Ch 5)
7-8: Application of the second law for closed systems ( Ch 6)
9: Second law for open systems (Ch 7)
10: Final examination
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Other information
Posting questions: General questions related to the Canvas system, course content, schedules,
concerns, etc., should be posted on the class forum called "General Questions and Comments" so
that all students can benefit from reading the answers. Specific questions related to homeworks
or class materials of a given week should be posted on the forums made for each module, i.e.
"Forum #1: Post your questions about Week 1 ". Discussion postings are archived and will be
available throughout the course. Please do not email the instructor with questions about the
readings or video lessons. They should be posted to the discussion forum. I will do my best to
respond quickly.
Communication: the majority of our communication takes place in the course forums and
the Conferences. However, when we have a need for communication that is private, whether
personal, interpersonal, or professional, we will use individual email. If you feel it is necessary
to contact your instructor, email is the preferable mode of communication. Check your syllabus
first before asking. If you have questions about the course, remember to check the textbook.
Phrase your email in a professional manner, typing the name of the class and the subject in the
subject line.
Internet connectivity: Please ensure that you have a stable Internet connection when you
are taking quizzes and exams. Whenever possible, use a wired connection instead of a wireless
connection. Connectivity issues that arise during online examinations may prevent you from
completing it or may cause scoring errors.
Disability Services: If you need support or assistance because of a disability, you may be
eligible for accommodations or services through the Disability Service Center at UC Irvine.
Please contact the DSC directly at (949) 824-7494 or TDD (949) 824-6272. You can also visit
the DSCs website: http://www.disability.uci.edu/. The DSC will work with your instructor to
make any necessary accommodations. Please note that it is your responsibility to initiate this
process with the DSC.
Etiquette: In an online classroom, our primary means of communication is written. The written language has many advantages: more opportunity for reasoned thought, more ability to go
in-depth, and more time to think through an issue before posting a comment. Because written communication lacks face-to-face signaling, like body language, intonation, pausing, facial
expressions, and gestures, please be aware of the possibility of miscommunication and compose
your comments in a positive, supportive, and constructive manner.
Course Calendar
To be posted.