| CODE | FST0413 | ||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Principles of Thermodynamics | ||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 00 - Mod Pre-Tert, Foundation, Proficiency & DegreePlus | ||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Engineering and ICT | ||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit is composed of seven topics. The first four topics provide the tools required to learn thermodynamics. The last three topics present the introductory, yet fundamental concepts of thermodynamics. Furthermore, this study-unit also introduces the student to experimentation and formal lab report preparation through several lab sessions held throughout the duration of the semester. Below is the list of topics covered: Topic 1 - Classification of Matter - Potential and Kinetic Energy of Atoms - Shape, Volume and Density - Concept of Pressure - Definition of Temperature - Phase Diagrams Topic 2 - Thermometry - Introduction to Temperature Scales - Different types of Thermometers - Liquid-in-glass - Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD) - Thermistor - Thermocouple - Constant-Volume Gas Thermometer Topic 3 - Transfer of Heat - Introduction of the concept of heat transfer - Concept of Heat Flux - Conduction - Conduction in Non-metallic solids and liquids - Conduction in Metallic solids - Conduction in Gases - Fourier鈥檚 Law of One-Dimensional Conduction - The concept of the U-value - Convection - Concept with reference to bulk fluid movement - Newton鈥檚 Law of Cooling - Radiation - Concept with regards to the electromagnetic wave spectrum - Reflectivity, absorptivity and transmissivity - Concept of emission - Spectral distribution - Wien鈥檚 Displacement and Stefan鈥檚 Laws - Black body concept Topic 4 - Atom as a Building Block of Matter - Material Hierarchical Structure - Representing elements - Concept of Isotopes - Unified Atomic Mass Unit and Relative Atomic Mass Unit - The Nucleus - Electrostatic and Strong Nuclear Forces - Rutherford and The Alpha Particle Scattering Experiment - Bohr鈥檚 model of the atom - The Periodic Table - Interatomic Bonding Topic 5 - Calorimetry - The Internal Energy of a substance with reference to Kinetic and Potential Energy of Atoms; Sensible and Latent components. Topic 6 - The Ideal Gas - The three Gas Laws - The concept of an Ideal Gas - The Ideal Gas Law equation - The Kinetic Theory of Gases (Description, Assumptions and Derivation) - Degrees of Freedom of Atoms Topic 7 - Thermodynamics - Definition of a Thermodynamic Process - Concept of Thermodynamic States - Reversibility and Irreversibility - The First Law of Thermodynamics - Isolated, Open and Closed Thermodynamic Systems - Work Done on/by Gases - Heat Capacities of Gases - Enthalpy of an Ideal Gas - Thermodynamic Processes - Isothermal - Adiabatic - Polytropic - The Second Law of Thermodynamics - Concept of Entropy - The Heat Engine - The Carnot Cycle - The Reversed Heat Engine - Refrigerator - Heat Pump Study-Unit Aims: - To provide students with the tools required to start learning thermodynamics; - To provide a comprehensive understanding of the introductory concepts of thermodynamics, particularly with reference to ideal gases; - To give an introductory overview of the application of the above concepts in practice; - To develop students鈥� ability to think critically and to reason logically; - To show how to utilize mathematics to model certain thermodynamic systems; - To introduce the student to experimentation and lab report formulation. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe the potential and kinetic energy of atoms with reference to the interatomic bonding; - Characterize the shape, volume and density of the different types of matter; - Describe the concept of pressure, both qualitatively and quantitatively; - Find the absolute pressure from the gauge pressure; - Read and use p-T phase diagrams; - Describe the ideal temperature scale and convert between Celsius and Kelvin; - Describe in detail the principle of operation, physical construction, advantages, disadvantages and limitations of several standard thermometers; - Describe the concept of heat transfer with reference to temperature difference; - Distinguish between heat flux and heat flow; - Characterize conduction heat transfer in different types of matter; - Calculate the conductive heat transfer using Fourier鈥檚 law of conduction in a perfectly lagged rod with uniform cross-sectional area. Rod may be a part of a series or parallel combination; - Distinguish qualitatively between a steady-state and transient conduction heat transfer process; - Describe qualitatively the concept of U-value; - Describe in moderate detail convective heat transfer and calculate its magnitude using Newton鈥檚 law of cooling; - Describe the concept of radiation heat transfer with reference to the electromagnetic wave spectrum; - Identify the reflected, absorbed and transmitted components of the incident heat transfer; - Describe the spectral distribution with reference to radiative heat transfer; - Use Wien鈥檚 Displacement Law and Stefan鈥檚 Law to solve quantitative questions; - Describe and use the black body concept; - Identify the typical material hierarchical structure; - State and describe what an isotope is; - Use the Unified Atomic Mass Unit and the Relative Atomic Mass Unit; - Describe the Nucleus in detail with reference to the electrostatic and strong nuclear forces, the conclusions drawn from the Alpha Particle Scattering experiment, and the theory put forward by Neils Bohr; - Read the periodic table; - Identify and describe the three types of primary bonds; - Describe the Van Der Waals secondary bonding; - Identify the components of the internal energy of a substance, and relate them to the intermolecular forces in the crystal structure; - Distinguish between the sensible and latent components of the internal energy; - Identify and explain the three gas laws, and how these form the basis of the ideal gas law equation; - Describe the concept of an ideal gas and how this differs from a real gas; - Use and derive different variants of the ideal gas law equation; - Describe qualitatively the Kinetic Theory of Gases, identify its assumptions, and derive it mathematically; - Distinguish between monoatomic, diatomic and polyatomic molecules on the basis of their degrees of freedom; - Describe what a thermodynamic process is and identify the properties of the ideal gas at a particular state in the process; - Distinguish qualitatively between reversible and irreversible thermodynamic processes; - State, describe and use the First Law of Thermodynamics; - Distinguish between isolated, closed and open thermodynamic systems; - Derive and calculate the work done on or by a gas; - Describe qualitatively and use the specific heat capacity at constant volume and constant pressure of an ideal gas; - Calculate the enthalpy of an ideal gas; - Describe and characterize different thermodynamic processes, namely; isothermal, adiabatic and polytropic; - State, describe and use the Second Law of Thermodynamics; - Describe and use the concept of entropy; - Describe qualitatively and quantitatively the concept of a heat engine and a reversed heat engine for both heat pump and refrigerator use; - Characterize the Carnot cycle. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Correlate the heat transfer and thermodynamic behavior of matter with its crystal structure; - Identify the appropriate thermometer for a particular temperature measurement exercise; - Solve moderate level questions that involve temperature scales and heat transfer; - Solve beginner-to-moderate level questions that involve ideal gases and closed thermodynamic systems; - Identify the accuracy limits of calculations in representing real world heat transfer and thermodynamic problems; - Use mathematics to derive, model and solve physics questions; - Relate fundamental physics theory to practical thermodynamic systems; - Conduct simple heat transfer and thermodynamic experiments; - Analyze data obtained from experiments and prepare lab reports that formally document these experiments. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Notes provided by lecturer. Supplementary Readings: - M. Farrell (2015). Advanced Level Physics Q&A Vol II. Miller Publications. ISBN: 9789995752217. - R. Muncaster (2014). A-Level Physics Fourth Edition. Nelson Thornes. ISBN: 9780748715848. - T. Duncan (2000). A-Level Physics Fifth Edition. Hodder Murray. ISBN: 9780719576690. - A.C. Xuereb (2012). Sixth Form College Physics, second edition. Merlin Publishers Ltd. ISBN: 978999091410-8. - T.D. Eastop, A. Mcconkey (1993). Applied Thermodynamics for Engineering Technologists 5th Edition. Longman Publishers. ISBN: 978-0582091931. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | This study-unit is offered only to the Certificate in Foundation Studies students. Please note that a pass in the Examination component is obligatory for an overall pass mark to be awarded. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Independent Study, Lecture, Practical & Tutorials | ||||||||||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Carl Caruana |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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