RChapter 11: Thermal Physics Flashcards
What is internal energy?
The total kinetic and potential energy of the particles in a system.
What happens to internal energy when temperature increases?
It increases because particle kinetic energy increases.
What is the specific heat capacity?
The energy required to raise 1 kg of a substance by 1°C (or 1 K).
What is the formula for specific heat capacity?
Q = mcΔT
What do the symbols in Q = mcΔT stand for?
Q = heat energy, m = mass, c = specific heat capacity, ΔT = temperature change.
What is specific latent heat?
The energy required to change the state of 1 kg of a substance without changing its temperature.
What is the formula for latent heat?
Q = mL
What are the two types of latent heat?
Latent heat of fusion and latent heat of vaporisation.
What is absolute zero?
The lowest possible temperature, where particles have minimum internal energy (0 K or -273.15°C).
What is the Kelvin scale?
A temperature scale starting from absolute zero, where 0 K = -273.15°C.
How do you convert Celsius to Kelvin?
Add 273.15 to the Celsius temperature.
What is Brownian motion?
Random motion of particles caused by collisions with smaller, invisible particles (evidence for molecules).
How does heating a gas affect its particles?
It increases the average kinetic energy of the particles.
What is thermal equilibrium?
A state where two objects in contact no longer exchange heat because they are at the same temperature.
Why does temperature not change during a state change?
Because energy is used to break/make bonds, not to change kinetic energy.
