Achieve an A* in your A Level Physics exams with our expertly written notes on 'Thermal Physics'. Created by a student who scored an A*, these notes are straightforward and easy to understand. Explore the principles of thermal energy, including heat transfer, specific heat capacity, and the laws of...
Internal energy def.?
- sum of the randomly distributed kinetic energies and potential energies of the particles in a
body
Ways to inc. the internal energy of a system?
1) transfer energy to it by heating
2) work is done on it
First law of thermodynamics?
- energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred from one store/form to another
Change of temp. equation?
-
- Q = heat energy
- c = specific heat capacity
What does a high specific heat capacity mean?
- substance heats up and cools down slowly
← bcs it takes much more heat energy to change its temp.
What does a low specific heat capacity mean?
- substance heats up and cools down quickly
← bcs it takes much less heat energy to change its temp.
Energy changes during heating/cooling a substance?
- KE changes (as the temp. is the average KE of a system)
- potential energy stays the same
⇒ since KE changes, internal energy changes
Change of state equation?
-
- Q = heat energy
- l = specific latent heat
Specific latent heat def.?
AND
MUST SAY: “with no change in temp.”
Diff. between latent heat of vaporisation and fusion?
- vaporisation - boiling, condensing ← between liquid and gas state
- fusion - melting, freezing ← between solid and liquid state
Energy changes during changing the state of a substance?
- KE stays the same
- potential energy changes
⇒ since potential energy changes, internal energy changes
Why do we have a specific latent heat of fusion and then a separate for evaporation
for a substance e.g. water?
- the specific latent heat of fusion (transitioning between solid and liquid) has a WAY lower
,value than the specific latent heat of evaporation (transitioning between liquid and gas)
→ bcs:
, Sublimation def.?
- solids vaporise to gas
- when heated
Practical: Find specific heat capacity of a material using an inversion tube
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller stravia54. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £5.26. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
