FC312E
PHYSICS
Theme: 8 Hour: 3 Thermodynamics
Module Learning Outcome Academic Literacy
Use First Law of Thermodynamics Use theoretical concepts to analyse real-world
practices.
Apply in real-world contexts Develop ability to read, comprehend and express
mathematical arguments
Use subject-specific vocabulary effectively.
FIRST LAW OF
THERMODYNAMICS
Outline (Hour 3)
• Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics revisited
• First Law of Thermodynamics
• Thermal processes – work done
• Adiabatic process
• Isotherms
• Specific heat capacity (constant pressure or volume)
Thermal Processes:
Heat Engine
Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics
If object A is in thermal
equilibrium with object B,
and object B is separately
in thermal equilibrium with
object C, then objects A and
C will be in thermal
equilibrium if they are
placed in thermal contact.
First Law of Thermodynamics
The first law of thermodynamics is a statement of the
conservation of energy.
If a system’s volume is constant, and heat is added, its
internal energy increases.
First Law of Thermodynamics
If a system does work on the external world, and no heat is
added, its internal energy decreases.
First Law of Thermodynamics
1- Heat added to the system
2- Work done by the system
The change in a system’s internal energy is related to the heat
Q and the work W as follows:
DU = Q - W
It is vital to keep track of the signs of Q and W.
• Systems gains heat Q + ive
• Systems loses heat Q - ive
• Work done by the system W - ive
• Work done on the system W + ive
First Law of Thermodynamics
Systems gains heat,
Q + ive, T2 > T1
Molecules with higher
temperature move
faster
Work done
on the system
W - ive, V2 < V1
First Law of Thermodynamics
The internal energy of the system depends only on its
temperature. The work done and the heat added, however,
depend on the details of the process involved.
Systems loses heat,
Q = -ive
Work done by the system,
W = +ive
There is a loss in energy,
Ui > Uf
Thermal Processes
We will assume that all processes we discuss are quasi-
static, they are slow enough that the system is always in
equilibrium.
We also assume they are reversible:
For a process to be reversible, it must be possible to
return both the system and its surroundings to exactly
the same states they were in before the process began.
Thermal Processes
Reversible process
The piston is assumed to be frictionless
Thermal Processes
Quasi-static process is an infinitely slow transition of a system in such a
way that:
• The deviation from thermodynamic equilibrium is infinitesimal.
• All states of the system passes through are equilibrium states.
DU = Q - W Q=0 DU = -W
Thermal Processes
This is an idealised
reversible process.
The gas is compressed; the
temperature is constant, so
heat leaves the gas.
As the gas expands, it
draws heat from the
reservoir, returning the gas
and the reservoir to their
initial states.
The piston is assumed to be
frictionless.
Thermal Processes
Work done by an expanding gas, at constant pressure is:
Thermal Processes: Example
Example:
A gas expands from an initial volume of 0.4 m3 to a final volume
of 0.62 m3 as the pressure increases linearly from 110 kPa to
230 kPa. Find the work done by the gas.
Thermal Processes: Example
Answer:
Area1 (rectangle) = Pi (V f - Vi )
Area2 (triangle ) = (Pf - Pi )(V f - Vi )
1
2
W = A1 + A2 = 3.7 ´10 J 4
Thermal Processes
If the volume stays constant, nothing
moves and no work is done.
Thermal Processes
If the temperature is constant, the pressure varies inversely
with the volume.
Thermal Processes
The work done is the area under the curve:
Thermal Processes
An adiabatic process
is one in which no heat
flows into or out of the
system (Q = 0).
The adiabatic P-V
curve is similar to the
isothermal one, but is
steeper. One way to
ensure that a process
is adiabatic is to
insulate the system.
Thermal Processes: Example
Example:
A certain gas has an initial
volume and pressure given by
point A in the PV plot. If the
gas is compressed
isothermally, its pressure rises
as indicated by the curve
labelled "isotherm.“
If, instead, the gas is compressed adiabatically from point A,
does its pressure follow (a) curve i, (b) curve ii, or (c) curve iii?
Thermal Processes
• One way to ensure that a process is
adiabatic is to insulate the system.
• Another way is to have the volume
change very quickly. In this case,
heat has no time to flow in or out of
the system.
Thermal Processes
Here is a summary of the different types of thermal
processes:
At constant pressure, W = PDV, Q = DU + PDV
At constant volume, W = 0, Q= DU
Isothermal (constant T), W = Q, DU = 0
Adiabatic (no heat flow), W = -DU, Q= 0
Specific Heats for an Ideal Gas: Constant
Pressure, Constant Volume
Specific heats for ideal gases must be quoted either at
constant pressure or at constant volume.
For a constant-volume process,
CV is a specific heat capacity at constant volume
At constant pressure,
CP is a specific heat capacity at constant pressure
Specific Heats for an Ideal Gas: Constant
Pressure, Constant Volume
Both CV and CP can be calculated for a monatomic ideal
gas using the first law of thermodynamics.
Specific Heats for an Ideal Gas: Constant
Pressure, Constant Volume
Although this calculation was done for an ideal, monatomic
gas, it works well for real gases.
Specific Heats for an Ideal Gas: Constant
Pressure, Constant Volume
The P-V curve for an adiabatic is
given by:
