Saya Tin Htay, M.

sc (Phys;) Sakura Win Japanese language Center Physics

Thermodynamics

First law of Thermodynamics

The first law of thermodynamics is simply a statement of the conservation of

energy for a thermodynamics system.

∆Q = ∆U + W

∆Q = the amount of heat

∆U = the change in the internal energy

W = the work done by or on the system

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Saya Tin Htay, M.sc (Phys;) Sakura Win Japanese language Center Physics

∆Q = m Lf , ∆Q = m Lv

Where, ∆Q = the amount of heat

m = mass

Lf = latent heat of fusion

Lv = latent heat of vaporization

Internal energy of a system

The internal energy of system is the sum of the total kinetics and the potential
energies of the atoms or molecules.

Unit of heat

MKS → Joule (J)

CGS → Calorie (cal), kilocalorie (kcal)

FPS → British Thermal Unit (BTU)

1 Btu = 778 ft-lb

1 cal = 4.186 J ≈ 4.2 J

Lf (water) = 80 calg-1

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Saya Tin Htay, M.sc (Phys;) Sakura Win Japanese language Center Physics

Lv (alcohol) = 200 calg-1

1 atm = 1.013 × 105 Nm-2 (or) Pa

1 lb = 970 Btu

1 atm = 14.7 lbin-2

Thermodynamics Processes

(1) Isobaric process

Isobaric process is the process in which the pressure of the system remains
constant.
p = constant, ∆p = 0
W = p∆V = p (V2 – V1)
∆Q = ∆U + W = ∆U + p∆V

(2) Isometric process

Isothermal process is the process in which the volume of the system remains
constant.
V = constant, ∆V = 0
W = p∆V = 0
∆Q = ∆U + W = ∆U + 0 = ∆U
So ∆Q = ∆U

(3) Isothermal process

Isothermal process is the process in which the temperature of the system
remains constant.
T = constant, ∆U = 0
∆Q = ∆U + W = 0 +W = W
∆Q = W

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Saya Tin Htay, M.sc (Phys;) Sakura Win Japanese language Center Physics

(4) Adiabatic process

Adiabatic process in which no heat energy enters or leaves the system.
∆Q = 0
∆Q = ∆U + W
-∆U = W (by first law)
There is a decrease in internal energy (- ∆U)

The second Law of Thermodynamics

“Heat will not flow spontaneously from a colder body to a hotter body.” In
another form is “Heat energy cannot be completely transformed, into mechanical work
(and vice versa) in a cyclic process.

“ The total entropy of the universe increases in every natural process.”

Change in entropy (∆S) of a system is given by

∆𝑄
∆𝑆 =
𝑇

Where T is the absolute temperature. SI unit of entropy is JK-1.

Third Law of Thermodynamics States

“It is impossible to obtain a temperature of absolute zero”.

Example

1. What is the change in entropy when 1.0 g of water freezes to ice at 0℃? (latent
heat of fusion for water is 80 calg-1)

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Saya Tin Htay, M.sc (Phys;) Sakura Win Japanese language Center Physics

2. 10 g of cube of ice at 0℃ is placed outside in direct sunlight on a hot day. The

sunlight and the hot air around the cube heat it at a rate of 10 W. It takes 5.56
minutes for the ice to completely melt. Calculate the specific latent heat of
fusion for water. Give your answer to 3 significant figures.
3. How long will it take a 50 W heater to melt 2 kg of ice at 0℃? (latent heat of
fusion of ice is 335 000 J/kg)

Heat engines

A heat engine is a device that converts heat energy into mechanical work.

E.g: The gasoline engine, the steam engine, the jet engine and even the human
body.

The basic process of a heat engine

(1) An amount of heat Qh is supplied to the engine from a high temperature heat
reservoir at temperature Th.
(2) Mechanical work W is performed by the engine by using a portion of the heat
input.

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Saya Tin Htay, M.sc (Phys;) Sakura Win Japanese language Center Physics

(3) The remaining heat Qc is rejected to a low temperature reservoir at temperature

Tc. (eg- the surrounding)

The mechanical efficiency (Eff)

The mechanical efficiency (Eff) of a simple machine is defined as the ratio of the
work output (Wout) to the work input (Win).

𝑊𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝐸𝑓𝑓 =
𝑊𝑖𝑛

Thermal efficiency (Eth)

Thermal efficiency is the ratio of the work output and heat input of a heat engine.

𝑊𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑄ℎ − 𝑄𝑐
𝐸𝑡ℎ = =
𝑄𝑖𝑛 𝑄ℎ

𝑄𝑐
=1−
𝑄ℎ

W = ∆Q = Qh – Qc

Example

1. A heat engine absorbs 250 Btu of heat energy and rejects 150 Btu while doing
work in a cycle. (i) How much work is done and (ii) what is the thermal
efficiency of the engine?

Distinguish between reversible and irreversible processes

Reversible process

A reversible process is one in which the system can be returned to its original state
with no net change in either the system or its surroundings.

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Saya Tin Htay, M.sc (Phys;) Sakura Win Japanese language Center Physics

Irreversible process

In irreversible process, the system can be restored its original state.

Example

2. A system receives 100 cal of heat energy. If 25 cal goes into internal energy,
how much joules of mechanical work is done by the system?
3. What is the change in entropy when 0.5 kg of water freezes to ice at 0℃? What
is the change in entropy when the ice melts at this temperature?
4. What is the change in entropy when 50 g of ethyl alcohol vapourized at the
boiling point of 78℃? (latent heat of vaporization of alcohol is 200 cal/g)
5. A heat engine absorbs 500 cal of heat and rejects 325 cal while doing work in a
cycle. (a) How many joules of work are done? (b) What is the thermal
efficiency of the engine?
6. A quantity of gas in a piston-cylinder arrangement is compressed isobarically at
a pressure of 1 atm with a volume decrease of 0.015 m3. If the internal energy of
the gas increases by 500 J, how much heat (in calories) is give up to the
surroundings?
7. In an isobaric process, 25 kcal of heat is isorbed by a system of perfect gas. If
the pressure of the gas is 2 × 105 Nm-2 and volume increases by 0.20 m3, what is
the change in the internal energy of the gas?
8. A system of gas absorbs 10 Btu of heat in an isometric process as the pressure
varies from 1.0 atm to 1.1 atm. How is the internal energy of the system
affected by the process?

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Saya Tin Htay, M.sc (Phys;) Sakura Win Japanese language Center Physics