Unit 4 : Thermal Physics

The unit Thermal Physics has got 60 periods.

1. Temperature (06 periods)
• Thermal equilibrium
• Zeroth law of thermodynamics
• Thermometric properties
• Expression for temperature based on two fixed points \[\theta = {{X_\theta - X_L}\over {X_H - X_L}}(\theta_H - \theta_L) + \theta_L \]
• Celsius scale \[\theta = {{X_\theta - X_L}\over {X_H - X_L}} \times {100}\; °\textrm{C} \]
• Absolute scale (Thermodynamic scale)
• Absolute zero
• Triple point of water
• Expression for absolute temperature based on triple point of water \[T = \frac {X_T}{X_{tr}} \times \textrm {273.16} \]
• Relationship between Celsius and absolute temperatures \[T = \theta + \textrm {273.15} \]
• Thermometers
• Mercury / alcohol in glass
2. Thermal expansion (06 periods)
• Expansion of solids
• Linear expansion
• Area expansion
• Volume expansion
• Relationship between linear, area and volume expansivities
• Volume expansion of liquids
• Real expansion
• Apparent expansion (derivation not necessary) \[\gamma _{real} = \gamma _{apparent} + \textrm{3} \alpha \]
• Variation of density with temperature
• Anomalous expansion of water
3. Gas laws (10 periods)
• Boyle's law
• Determination of the atmospheric pressure using quill tube
• Charles's law
• Investigation of relation between volume and temperature at constant pressure
• Pressure law
• Investigation of relationship between pressure and temperature at constant volume
• Ideal gas equation \(pV = nRT \)
• Dolton's law of partial pressure
4. Kinetic theory of gases (04 periods)
• Elementary assumptions of the kinetic theory
• Equation of kinetic theory (Derivation is not necessary) \[pV = \frac {1}{3} Nm \overline {c^2} \]
• Expression for mean translational kinetic energy of an air molecule \[E = \frac {3}{2} kT\]
5. Heat exchange (08 periods)
• Heat capacity
• Specific heat capacity of solids and liquids
• Molar heat capacity of gases
• Determination of specific heat capacities of solids by the method of mixtures
• Newton's law of cooling
• Determination of specific heat capacities of liquids by the method of cooling
6. Changes of state (08 periods)
• State of matter
• Qualitative molecular account of the difference between solids, liquids and gases
• Simple explanation of the molecular processes involve in fusion and boiling
• Fusion (melting)
• Specific latent heat of fusion
• Determination of specific latent heat of fusion of ice (method of mixture)
• Vaporization at boiling
• Specific latent heat of vaporization
• Determination of specific latent heat of vaporization of water (method of mixture)
• Effect of pressure on boiling point and melting point
7. Vapour and humidity (08 periods)
• Evaporation
• Comparison of evaporation and vapourization (boiling)
• Vapour pressure and saturated vapour pressure
• Variation of vapour pressure with temperature
• Variation of vapour pressure with volume
• Dew point
• Absolute humidity
• Relative humidity
• Determination of relative humidity using polished calorimeter
8. Thermodynamics (04 periods)
• Explanation of heat as a state of transfer of energy
• Internal energy
• First law of thermodynamics \[\Delta Q = \Delta U + \Delta W \]
• Special instances where the first law of thermodynamics is applicable
• Constant pressure processes
• Constant volume processes
• Isothermal processes
• Adiabatic processes
• Cyclic processes
• Pressure - volume curves for above processes
9. Transfer of heat (06 periods)
• Conduction
• Thermal conductivity
• Equation for the rate of conduction of heat
• Temperature variation of lagged and non lagged uniform rods
• Determination of thermal conductivity of a metal
• Searle's method
• Convection
• Radiation

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