Thermal Physics Flashcards
Kinetic model of matter
describing the structure of solid, liquid and gases
Describe the structures of solid, liquid and gas
Solid: particles are close together, strong bonds, vibrate in fixed positions
Liquid: particles are relatively close together, relatively strong bonds, can move past each particle
Gas: particles are free to move, weak bonds, widely spread apart and move irregularly
Describe the cooling curve
y-axis = temperature
x-axis = time
the temperature drops rapidly at first, and then more slowly as it reaches room temperature
at BC, temperature is steady, the liquid slowly turns to solid -> energy is still being lost even though temperature is not decreasing
once no liquid remains, temperature starts dropping again in CD
Describe the cooling curve when heating a substance
y axis = temperature
x axis = time
at AB, the temperature starts to rise to 0°C
at BC, the temperature is constant and the substance changes from solid to liquid
at CD, the temperature starts to increase to 100°C
at DE, the temperature is constant and the substance changes from liquid to gas (steam)
at EF, the temperature starts increasing to above 100°C
Describe the motion of particles when heat is applied in relation to kinetic energy
if particles move around more freely and faster, their KE has increased
if they break free from neighbours and become more disordered, the electrical potential energy increased
Describe the relation of potential energy and the seperation of particles
Work must be done to seperate two atoms
The electrical potential energy of two atoms is large and negative
As the seperation of the atoms increases, their potential energy also increases
When atoms are completely seperated, their potential energy also increases
The more the potential energy, the larger the negative number
Describe the heating curve in terms of potential energy
AB = increase in KE, little change in seperation hence little change in PE
BC = ice starts to melt, molecules become more disordered and PE increases
CD = increase in KE, little change in seperation hence little change in PE
DE = water is boiling and molecules are greatly disordered so large change in PE
EF = KE is increasing, maximum potential energy = 0
Evaporation
when a liquid changes into gas without going through boiling
- molecules that move faster than others break free from the liquid (net outflow of energetic molecules from the liquid)
- leaves molecules with below average KE
- temperature falls
Internal energy
the sum of the random distribution of KE and PE within a system of molecules
Factors of internal energy
- temperature
- random motion of molecules
- phases of matter
Increasing and decreasing internal energy
Increasing:
- doing work to it by compression
- adding heat to it
Decreasing:
- losing heat to its surroundings
First law of thermodynamics
Internal energy = energy supplied by heating TO the system + work done ON the system
△U = q + W
How does principle conservation of energy apply to first law of thermodynamics?
Principle of conservation of energy -> energy cannot be created nor destroyed, only transferred to one another
This means that all energy put into a gas by heating it and doing work must end up inside the gas
- hence total internal energy remains unchanged
What does positive value of △U mean?
- internal energy of △U increases
- heat q is added TO the system
- work W is done ON the system
What does negative value of △U mean?
- internal energy of △U decreases
- heat q is taken AWAY from the system
- work is done BY the system
