Thermodynamics Made Easy
Recommended Books
1. Feynman Lectures in
Physics – chapters 44, 45, 46
2. Principles of
Thermodynamics, Jean-Philippe Ansermet and Sylvain D. Brechet
3. Essential Classical
Thermodynamics, Ulf W. Gedde
4. Problems & Solutions on
Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics, World
Scientific
Lecture #1:
heat and temperature; zero'th Law of Thermodynamics; thermometers; absolute zero; Third Law of Thermodynamics
Lecture #2:
conversion of energy from one
form to another; units of heat and energy; internal energy (example: ideal
gas); thermodynamic variables and equation of state; isolated, closed and open
systems; First Law of Thermodynamic;
exact and inexact differentials.
Lecture #3:
adding
heat to a system; various heat capacities of a substance; enthalpy and its uses;
m
oles: a quick reminder from
chemistry; measuring heat capacities; heat capacities of a non-ideal gas
Lecture #4:
reversible and irreversible
processes; isothermal expansion of a gas; adiabatic expansion of a gas; free
expansion of a gas; application: speed of sound
Lecture #5:
entropy – a qualitative
understanding; entropy – formal definition; entropy as a state function; thermodynamic
cycles; worked example
Lecture #6:
heat engines and efficiency; Carnot
engine; Second law of thermodynamics; equivalence between Clausius and Kelvin;
statements; the Carnot engine is universal – proof
a
nalyzing the Carnot engine; solved
example
Lecture #7:
absolute temperature defined;
the Clausius inequality – derivation; Clausius inequality – consequences; why
the entropy of the universe has to increase; using entropy as a state variable;
solved examples
Lecture #8:
Helmholtz free energy; Gibbs
free energy; application to chemical reactions; melting and Gibbs free energy;
open systems and Gibbs free energy; chemical potential – physical
interpretation; chemical potential for an ideal gas
Lecture #9:
examples of phase transitions;
melting of ice – worked example; Euler’s theorem and molar quantities; Clausius-Clapeyron;
equation – derivation; phase diagrams; first and second order phase transitions
Lecture #10:
black body basics (Planck, Stefan-Boltzmann, Wien); h
ow hot is that star?; s
un as a black body radiator; b
asics of the photon gas; t
hermodynamics of the expanding
universe