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Topic 3 - Thermal Physics - IB Physics

This document provides an overview of key concepts in thermal physics for the IB Physics syllabus. It discusses molecular theory of solids, liquids and gases, temperature and absolute temperature, internal energy, specific heat capacity, phase changes, specific latent heat, pressure, the equation of state for ideal gases, kinetic model of ideal gases, mole, molar mass and the Avogadro constant, and differences between real and ideal gases.

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Azzahra Yeasmin Saika
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148 views10 pages

Topic 3 - Thermal Physics - IB Physics

This document provides an overview of key concepts in thermal physics for the IB Physics syllabus. It discusses molecular theory of solids, liquids and gases, temperature and absolute temperature, internal energy, specific heat capacity, phase changes, specific latent heat, pressure, the equation of state for ideal gases, kinetic model of ideal gases, mole, molar mass and the Avogadro constant, and differences between real and ideal gases.

Uploaded by

Azzahra Yeasmin Saika
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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3/30/2021 Topic 3: Thermal physics – IB Physics

IB PHYSICS

Topic 3: Thermal physics


See the guide for this topic.

3.1 – Thermal concepts

Molecular theory of solids, liquids and gases

Molecules are held together by intermolecular forces.

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3/30/2021 Topic 3: Thermal physics – IB Physics

The fourth state of plasma is not required to be learnt in the current


syllabus.

Temperature and absolute temperature

Temperatures describe how hot or cold an object is and determines the


direction of heat flow between two bodies.

Thermal energy transfers from an object with higher temperature to


another object with lower temperature. The energy transfer is called heat
(the flow of energy due to temperature di erence). Objects which are in
thermal equilibrium have the same temperature.

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3/30/2021 Topic 3: Thermal physics – IB Physics

Temperatures in Kelvin can be calculated by deducting the temperatures


in Celsius by 273.15.

The absolute temperature of a body in the Kelvin scale is directly


proportional to the average kinetic energy per molecule inside the body.

Absolute zero is 0K or -273 degrees Celsius.

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Temperatures cannot be lower than absolute zero. It is the temperature


where particles have zero average kinetic energy (no random motion).

Internal energy

Internal energy is the sum of total kinetic energy (total thermal energy)
and total potential energy.

Kinetic energy is energy associated with the random/translational


rotational motions of molecules.

Potential energy is associated with forces between molecules.

Specific heat capacity

The specific heat capacity of a substance is given by

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3/30/2021 Topic 3: Thermal physics – IB Physics

and is defined by the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of


1kg of the substance by 1K.

Di erent substances have di erent specific heat capacities because of


di erent densities and physical properties.

FYI

The thermal capacity of an object is given by Q=cθ (or Q=cΔT) and is


defined by the amount of heat needed to raise an object’s temperature
by 1K.

Phase change

Change of Process Kinetic energy Potential energy


phase

Solid to liquid Melting Unchanged Increases

Liquid to solid Freezing Unchanged Decreases

Liquid to gas Boiling Unchanged Increases

Gas to liquid Condensation Unchanged Decreases

During a phase change, temperature and kinetic energy remain constant


and potential energy changes (which increases as molecules spread out
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and vice versa).

FYI

Boiling: Only occurs at the boiling point (a specific temperature


depending on substance) and occurs throughout the liquid.

Evaporation: Can occur at any temperature and only occurs at the


surface of the liquid. The fastest moving particles evaporate, decreasing
the average KE of the remaining particles. As a result, temperature drops.

Specific latent heat

The specific latent heat of a substance is given by

Specific latent heat of fusion: The amount of heat required to change


1kg of a substance from solid to liquid without any change in
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temperature.

Specific latent heat of vaporization: The amount of heat required to


change 1kg of a substance from liquid to gas without any change in
temperature.

3.2 – Modelling a gas

Pressure

Pressure is defined as the normal force per unit area and is given by the
equation

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Equation of state for an ideal gas

where R=8.31(J/mol/K)

Kinetic model of an ideal gas

Assumptions:

The collisions between molecules are perfectly elastic.


The molecules are identical spheres.
The volume of molecules is negligible compared to the volume of the
gas.
Molecules do not interact with each other except when they are in
constant.

Implications:

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Absolute temperature is directly proportional to the average KE and


average speed of the molecules of an ideal gas.

Mole, molar mass and the Avogadro


constant

Mole:

Like the word “dozon”, a mole is a unit of quantity. It is used to


measure the number of atoms or molecules.
A mole of any material contains 6.022*10^23 atoms or molecules.
The value 6.022*10^23 is called the Avogadro constant.
The number of moles of a substance can be calculated by dividing
the number of molecules of that substance by the Avogadro
constant.

Molar Mass:

The molar mass is the mass of 1 mole of any element or compound.


Di erent materials/elements have di erent molar masses which can
be found as the Mr in the periodic table.

Avogadro constant:

6.022*10^23

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Di erences between real and ideal gases

The ideal gas is based on a list of assumptions stated previously.


However, in real gases, such assumptions may not be true.

Forces exist between gas molecules in real gases (intermolecular


forces).
The volume of molecules is not negligible compared to the volume of
gas in real gases.

Real gases may behave similarly to ideal gases under high temperatures
and low pressure.

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