thermal physics Flashcards
describe the structure of a solid
particles are fixed in a uniform lattice, where particles vibrate around their fixed positions
they are held in position by strong forces of electrostatic attraction
describe the structure of a liquid
particles are not fixed in position: they are constantly moving around but there are still some forces of attraction
describe the structure of a gas
particles are free to move around with constant random motion. there are no forces of attraction between particles in an ideal gas
define thermal equilibrium
no net transfer of energy; two bodies in thermal equilibrium have the same temperature
what is the celsius scale?
uses the freezing + boiling points of water to make a temperature scale
what is the kelvin scale?
also the thermodynamic scale does not depend on the properties of the substance
what value is absolute zero in degrees?
-273 degrees
convert degrees to kelvin
+273
what occurs when you heat a solid?
particles gain kinetic energy and vibrate more vigorously
eventually they may break away from the structure + become free to move around
when this happens, the solid has melted into a liquid
what occurs when you heat a liquid?
some of the particles gain enough energy to break away from other particles
particles that escape from the body of the liquid become a gas
what occurs when you heat a gas?
molecules collide with the container- these collisions are responsible for pressure which a gas exerts on the container
what is brownian motion?
particles move with random, zig zag motion
how could we observe Brownian motion?
put smoke in a brightly illuminated glass jar and observe particles using a microscope
smoke particles appear as bright specs moving haphazardly from side to side
how did Einstein prove the existence of atoms and molecules in the air?
randomly moving particles were hitting the smoke particles unevenly, causing this motion
define internal energy
the sum of the kinetic and potential energy of particles within a system
what is the relationship between kinetic energy and temperature?
directly proportional
what is potential energy caused by?
interactions between particles and is based on positions relative to each other
what happens to a substance when it’s heated?
temperature increases so kinetic energy increases and the internal energy increases
what happens when a substance changes phase?
the energy from the heat is used to alter and break the bonds within the substance but not to raise the temperature. as a result, the kinetic energy of the substance remains the same but the internal energy changes in order for it to change phase
define specific heat capacity
the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1kg of a substance by 1 degree or 1 kelvin
give the equation for specific heat capacity
E= mcT