Thermal Contact :

Objects that can exchange energy with each other

Thermal equilibrium:
is the situation in which two objects in thermal contact cease to have any exchange of energy.

Zeroth law of thermodynamics (the Law of equilibrium):

If objects A and B are separately in thermal equilibrium with a third object C, then A and B are
in thermal equilibrium with each other.

We can think of temperature as the property that determines whether an object is in thermal
equilibrium with other objects.

Two objects in thermal equilibrium with each other are at the same temperature.

Heat:
is energy that is transferred from one object to another because of a temperature difference.
Generally, heat transfer is the result of a temperature difference.

Total internal energy: Under it we have -

Kinetic energy of molecules-
Vibrational and rotational energy of molecules & Random translational energy of
molecules (“temperature energy”)

Potential energy of molecules (due to intermolecular forces)

Thermometers and Temperature Scales:

common thermometer is the liquid-in-glass type, which is based on the thermal expansion of a liquid.
Thermometers are calibrated so that a numerical value may be assigned to a given temperature.

Two temperature scales are:

Fahrenheit temperature scale
Celsius temperature scale

Celsiu s to Fahrenheit conversion TF = (9/5)TC + 32

Fahrenheit to Celsius conversion TC = (5/9)(TF – 32)

Gas Laws and Absolute Temperature

These are the ones that describe the behavior of a given quantity (mass) of gas are pressure p, volume
V, and temperature T.

Boyle’s law:
When temperature is held constant, the pressure and volume of a quantity of gas are related
as follows:
pV = constant
p1V1 = p2V2
T = constant

Charles’ law:
When the pressure is held constant, the volume of a quantity of gas is related to the absolute
temperature:
V / T = constant
V1 / T1 = V2 / T 2
Low-density gases obey these laws, which may be combined into a single relationship.
Ideal gas law:
Notice that since pV= constant and V / T = constant for a given quantity of gas, then pV / T must also
equal a constant.
pV / T = NkB
pV = NkB T

N is the number of molecules in the sample of gas

Boltzmann’s constant - kB = 1.38 x 10-23 J / K

Absolute Zero and the Kelvin Temperature Scale

The absolute minimum temperature for an ideal gas may be inferred by extrapolating, This
temperature is found to be –273.15oC and is designated as absolute zero.

Absolute zero is the foundation of the Kelvin temperature scale

Thermal Expansion
Linear expansion- The change in one dimension of a solid (length, width, or thickness)
For small temperature changes, linear expansion is approximately proportional to change in T
(Tf – Ti). The fractional change in length is (L – Lo) / Lo, or 
L/Lo, where Lo is the original length (at
the initial temperature). This is related to the change in temperature