Thermal Physics Extractions

TEMPERATURE
 Thermocouple has a low heat capacity, therefore it is more sensitive.
Comparatively, liquid-in-glass thermometers have glass exteriors. Glass is a poor
conductor of heat.
 A liquid raises more in a narrow bore for a small temperature change.
 Diameter of a bore affects sensitivity. The narrower, the more sensitive to change.
 Calibrating a Thermometer: Deduce a lower fixed point or an ice point and
mark the stem when the mercury level becomes steady. It is assigned a value of
0*C. It can be found by placing the bulb of a thermometer in ice. Then measure
the steam point by placing the bulb of the thermometer in the steam of boiling
water. Mark this point as 100*C. Divide the distance between them into 100 equal
segments.
 Sensitivity is directly proportional to difference in length.
 Heating a flask causes the pressure to increase because the particles gain kinetic
energy and hit against the walls of the flask and on the liquid surface more
frequently and with more energy.
 The ice point can be obtained by placing the bulb of the thermometer in pure
crushed/melting ice whereas the steam point can be obtained by placing the bulb
of the thermometer in the steam of boiling water at a standard atmospheric
pressure.
 Thermometer can be made more sensitive by ii) by using a glass tube of a
narrower bore, ii) by using a larger flask, ii) by having less liquid and more air and
iv) by using a liquid that expands considerably upon heating.
 In a non-linear scale, the segments are not equally spaced. It is produced for
instances where the liquid rises through varying distances for the same change in
temperature, owing to the non-uniform expansion of the liquid.
 As compared to gases, liquid expands less. Hence, when the flask is full, the liquid
expands less for the same change in temperature.
 A physical property should vary continuously and uniformly with the change in
temperature for it to be suitable for measurement of temperature.
 TRANSFER OF HEAT
 Thermal equilibrium is when both regions have the same temperature and there is
no net heat transfer between the pots.
 For insulation of hot water tanks, glass-fiber and expanded polystyrene in lagging
are efficient.
 Evaporation of the water keeps the runner cool because water absorbs the heat
from the runner’s body. More energetic molecules escape from the surface into the
air and leave behind slower less energetic molecules. Hence, temperature is
decreased.
 Water evaporates more quickly in the breeze because the surrounding is less
humid, rate of evaporation increases.
 In a saucepan, the atoms near the lower layer of copper base gain kinetic energy
and vibrate more vigorously and more frequently. Eventually, this makes them hit
the mobile electrons and transfer the energy to them. Gaining the energy, the
mobile electrons are able to travel to upper portions of the saucepan and transfer
their energy to distant atoms. They then exit to the hotter layer to repeat the
process.