CHAPTER 1: FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPT OF THERMODYNAMICS

GENERAL OBJECTIVE
To apply the fundamental concepts of Thermodynamics.
To classify the fundamental concepts of thermodynamics.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
Explain the concepts of dimension, SI and Imperial units.
Explain the dimensional homogeneity.
Solve Unit conversion.
Define the principles of a system, boundary and surrounding.
Define process (reversible and irreversible) and cycle.
Describe the properties of systems (intensive and extensive), state and equilibrium.
Explain Zeroths law of thermodynamics.
Define energy conversion.

1.1

What is Thermodynamics?
The word thermodynamics was coined by William Thompson (Lord Kelvin) in 1749.
It comes from the Greek words: therme (heat) and dynamis (power). The name heat-power is
appropriate because thermodynamics developed from efforts to explain the conversion of heat
into power by steam engines. Science that deals with heat and work and the changes they
can produce e.g. change of temperature (T), pressure (P) etc.

1.2

Concepts of Dimension, SI and Imperial Units.

There is a difference between dimensions and units.
A dimension is a measure of a physical variable (without numerical values)
A unit is a way to assign a number or measurement to that dimension.
For example, length is a dimension, but it is measured in units of feet (ft) or meters (m).

There are two primary unit systems in use today:

the International System of Units (SI units, from Le Systeme International dUnites, more commonly
simply called metric units)

the English Engineering System of Units (commonly called English units)

METRIC SYSTEM
-

IMPERIAL SYSTEM

International System of Units (SI

English Engineering System of Units

(commonly called English units)

United States Customary System (USCS)

units, from Le Systeme International

dUnites, more commonly called
metric units)
-

A simple and logical system based

It has no apparent systematic

on a decimal relationship between

numerical base, and various units in this

the various units.

Based on powers of 10 (like money)
All we need to do is slide the

system are related to each other rather

arbitrarily.

decimal.

1.2.1

Primary Dimension
Table 1.1: Fundamental Unit

Primary Dimension Symbol

SI unit

English unit

mass

kg (kilogram) lbm (pound-mass)

length

m (meter)

ft (foot)

time

s (second)

s (second)

temperature

K (Kelvin)

R (Rankine)

electric current

A (ampere)

A (ampere)

amount of light

cd (candela)

cd (candela)

mol (mole)

mol (mole)

(luminous intensity)

amount of matter

1.2.2

Secondary Dimension (Derived Quantities &Derived Units)

Derived quantities are physical quantities which are derived from the base
quantities by multiplication or division or both.
For example, speed is a derived quantity of length (distance travelled) over
time.
Base quantity
(Length)

Derived quantity

Speed

Distance
Time
Base quantity
(Time)

Derived units are units of measurements (for derived quantities) which are
derived from base units of the component base quantities by multiplication
or division or both. In the case of the derived quantity, speed, its derived unit
is metre/time (with unit symbol, m/s or ms-1).
Unit = m

Speed

Distance
Time
Unit = s

Table 1.2: Derived Unit

Quantity

1.3

Symbol

SI unit

English unit

Force

lbf (pound
force)

Acceleration

N (Newton)
2
N = kg.m/s
2
m/s

Pressure

Energy

2
Pascal = N/m
Joule = N.m

2
ft/s
2
lbf/in (psi)
ft.lbf
(foot pound)

Power

Watt = J/s

ft.lbf/s

Density

3
kg/m

3
lb/ft

Unit Conversion
SI works by combining prefixes and base units. Each base unit can be used
with different prefixes to define smaller and larger quantities. The table below lists
common SI prefixes.
Table 1.3: Standard prefixes in SI units

Table 1.4: SI conversion table

SI units
Length
kilometer (km) = 1,000 m
meter (m) = 100 cm
centimeter (cm) = 0.01 m
millimeter (mm) = 0.001 m
micrometer (m) = 0.000 001 m

nanometer (nm) = 0.000 000 001 m

Volume
liter (L) = 1,000 mL = 1 dm3
milliliter (mL) = 0.001 L = 1 cm3
microliter (L) = 0.000 001 L
Mass
kilogram (kg) = 1,000 g
gram (g) = 1,000 mg
milligram (mg) = 0.001 g
microgram (g) = 0.000 001 g

Example 1.1: Unit Conversion

1. Convert 1 km/hour to m/s
1 km = 1000 m
1 hour = 3600 seconds

2. Convert 10 g/cm3 to kg/m3

1 g = 0.001 kg
1 cm = 0.01 m

1000 m
km
1
3600 s
hour
0.278m / s
1

10

0.001 kg 10 0.01 kg
g
10
3
cm
0.013 m 3
0.01 m 3

100 000 kg/m 3

3. Convert 3 km/hour2 to m/s2
1 km = 1000 m
1 hour2 = (3600 s)2 = 36002 s2

1000 m
km
3
2
hour
3600 2 s 2

2.315 x 10 -4 m/s 2

1.4

Dimensional Homogeneity
Dimensional analysis we are only concerned with the nature of the dimension i.e. its
quality not its quantity. The following common abbreviation are used:
Length (L), mass (M), time (T)
The following table lists dimensions of some common physical quantities:
Quantity

SI Unit

Dimension

velocity

m/s

ms-1

LT-1

acceleration

m/s2

ms-2

LT-2

force

N
kg m/s2

kg ms-2

M LT-2

energy (or work)

Joule J
N m,
kg m2/s2

kg m2s-2

ML2T-2

Watt W
N m/s
kg m2/s3

Nms-1
kg m2s-3

ML2T-3

Pascal P,
N/m2,
kg/m/s2

Nm-2
kg m-1s-2

ML-1T-2

kg/m3

kg m-3

ML-3

power

pressure ( or stress)
density

Dimensional homogeneity is the quality of an equation having quantities of same

units on both sides
Each term that is added or subtracted must have the same dimensions.
Example 1.2: Dimensional Homogenity
Verify whether the following equation has dimensional homogeneity,
v2 u2 = 2as
Where v is velocity, a is acceleration and s is the distance moved
Solution
Dimension of velocity

= LT-1

Dimension of acceleration

= LT-2

Dimension of distance

=L

Substituting these dimension in the given equation we get:

(LT-1)2 (LT-1)2 = 2LT-2. L
L2T-2 = L2T-2
Hence it is dimensionally homogeneous equation.

Exercise 1.1
1. List FIVE (5) SI (international System) units and their symbols.

SI unit

Symbol

2. Differentiate between International System (SI) units and Imperial units based on
quantity below:

Quantity

Length

Mass

Density

3. Convert the following unit:

SI unit

Imperial Unit

a. 0.5 bar to kPa

b. 15 kJ/h to Watt

c. 300 liter to m3

4. Convert the following unit:

i.

0.15 bar to kN/m2

ii.

380 km/h to cm/minutes

633.33 10 3 cm/minutes
15 kN/m 2
iii.

45 000 Pascal to MN/m2

iv.

0.045 MN/m 2
v.

5 MN/ cm2 to GN/ m2

60 kN/m 2
vi.

50 GN/m 2
vii.

10 mg/ cm3 to kg/ m3

10 kg/m 3

6 N/ cm2 to kN/ m2

78 g/mm3 to kg/m3

78 10 6 kg/m 3
viii.

15 mg/litre to kg/m3

0.015 kg/m 3

2.0

Definitions of system, boundary and surrounding

A thermodynamic system, or simply a system, is defined as a quantity of matter or a

region in space chosen for study. The fluid contained by the cylinder head, cylinder
walls and the piston may be said to be the system.
System may be considered to be closed or open, depending on whether a fixed mass
or a fixed volume in space chosen for study.
Quantity of Matter = (inside the system) can be water, air or gas.
Systems may be considered to be closed or open.

The mass or region outside the system is called the surroundings. The surroundings
may be affected by changes within the system.

The boundary is the surface of separation between the system and its surroundings.
The boundary can be real or imaginary, fixed or movable. It may be the cylinder and
the piston.

m
v
p

Figure 2.1 System, Surroundings and Boundary

2.1

Properties of System
Property any characteristic of a system, i.e. pressure, temperature, volume and mass.
Properties are considered to be either intensive or extensive.
Intensive properties are those which are independent of the size of the system such as
temperature, pressure and density.
Extensive properties are those whose values depend on the size or extent of the
system. Mass, volume and total energy are some examples of extensive properties.
Specific properties: Extensive properties per unit mass

1/3 m

2/3 m

1/3 v

2/3 v

Rigid vessel
Figure 2.2: Intensive and Extensive properties

Extensive
Properties
Intensive
Properties

2.2.1

State and Equilibrium

The word state refers to the condition of system as described by its properties
in equilibrium. If the value of even one property change, the state will changes
to a different one.

T = 15 0C
P = 1 bar
V = 1 m3

State 1

T = 30 0C
P = 2 bar
V = 0.5 m3

State 2

Figure 2.3: A set of properties that describes the condition.

Equilibrium - implies state of balance
2.2.2

Process and Cycle

Process is any change that a system undergoes from one equilibrium state to
another OR transformation of process from one state to another.

Figure 2.4: Process undergoes from state 1 to state 2 using different path.

Process may be reversible or irreversible.

Processes may be constrained to occur at constant temperature (isothermal),
constant pressure, constant volume, polytrophic and adiabatic.
Reversible process is a process that can be reversed without leaving any trace
on the surroundings.

i.e Both, System and Surroundings are returned to their initial states at the end
of the process
This is only possible when net heat and net work exchange between the
system and the surroundings is ZERO for the process
Irreversible process is a process that is not reversible.
e.g. Hot cup of coffee

Cools down when

exposed to surroundings.

But,

Warm up by gaining heat from surrounding

i.e without external heat supply

Figure 2.5: Irreversible process.

Cycle is a series of processes and returned to initial state at the end of the
process.

Figure 2.6: Irreversible process.

3.0

The Zeroth Law

The Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics states that if two bodies are each in
thermal equilibrium with some third body, then they are also in equilibrium with each
other. Thermal equilibrium means that when two bodies are brought into contact with

each other and separated by a barrier that is permeable to heat, there will be no
transfer of heat from one to the other.

Example
Object C (thermometer) is placed in contact with A until they achieve thermal
equilibrium.
The reading on C is recorded
Object C is then placed in contact with object B until they achieve thermal
equilibrium.

The reading on C is recorded again

If the two readings are the same, A and B are also in thermal equilibrium.

If T(A) = T(C)
And T(B) = T(C)
Then T(A) = T(B)

Figure 2.7: The Zeroth Law

3.0

Energy Conversion
Energy is the ability to do WORK or cause change.
Energy is measured by the amount of work it is able to do. The units for measuring
energy are joules (J).
Energy can be converted (transformed or changed) from one form to another.

There are two main kinds of energy

i. Potential energy is a STORED energy or energy that is NOT being used.
ii. Kinetic energy is an energy in MOTION or energy that IS being used

Both potential and kinetic energy come in many forms. Six of the most common ones
are:
i. Mechanical energy - Energy of moving parts
ii. Thermal (heat) energy - Energy of the heat IN an object
iii. Chemical energy -Energy in chemical bonds of food, gas, batteries, burning
wood etc.
iv. Electrical energy - Moving electrical charges
v. Electromagnetic energy - Light energy, X-rays, radio waves
vi. Nuclear energy - Stored in the nucleus of an atom & released when atoms are
split or joined together, nuclear reactors, atomic bombs, stars, sun
Energy Conversion: Is a change from one form of energy to another.
Most forms of energy can be converted into other forms.
For e.g.:
- Lamp and clock convert electrical energy into electromagnetic.
- A water heater converts chemical energy in natural gas to thermal energy.
- Body converts chemical energy in the food you eat to mechanical energy you need
to move your muscles. It is also changed into thermal energy your body needs to
maintain its temperature.
- A toaster converts electrical energy to thermal energy.

Example: Energy Conversion in a Waterfall

The water at the top of the falls has gravitational potential energy because it is higher
than at the bottom. As the water falls, its height decreases, and loses its potential
energy. At the same time, its kinetic energy increases because its velocity (speed)
increases. The potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.

Gravitational
Potential
Energy

Kinetic
Energy

Exercise
1. Differentiate between International System (SI) units and Imperial units based on
quantity below:
Bezakan antara Sistem Antarabangsa (SI) dan unit Imperial berdasarkan kuantiti di
bawah:

Quantity /
Kuantiti
Length /
Panjang
Mass /

SI unit /
Unit SI

Imperial Unit /
Unit Imperial

Jisim
Density /
Ketumpatan
2. Define the following terms:
Nyatakan definisi bagi istilah istilah berikut:
i.

System
Sistem

ii.

Boundary
Sempadan
iii. Surroundings
Sekeliling

iv.

Intensive properties
Sifat Intensif

v.

Exstensive properties
Sifat Ekstensif

vi.

Reversible process
Proses boleh balik

vii.

Irreversible process
Proses tak boleh balik

3. Sketch and define the following:

Dengan bantuan lakaran, terangkan perkara berikut:
i.

State
Keadaan

ii.

Process
Proses

iii.

Cycle
Kitaran

4. Explain with the aid of sketch of Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics

Terangkan dengan bantuan gambarajah Hukum Sifar Termodinamik