Heat and Work

Internal / thermal energy is the sum of all kinetic and

potential energies of the atoms.
Heat- is the thermal energy that flows from a substance of
higher temperature to a substance of lower temperature.
Adiabatic process is a process without gain or loss of heat.
Spontaneous process- when heat flows normally from
higher temperature to lower temperature. It does not
require any external energy to occur.
Non-spontaneous process happens when heat flows from
lower temperature to higher temperature. It needs
mechanical energy to occur.
Second Law of Thermodynamics states that Heat will
never of itself flow from a cold temperature to a hot
temperature object. Hence, heat pump is used.
Heat pump is a device that reverses the direction of the
heat flow: from a cold reservoir to a warmer one. Example:
Refrigerator and air conditioning
The refrigerator cooling cycle follows the
following mechanisms:
a. The compressor compresses the freon into a
pressure of several atmospheres.
b. The gas is cooled to near room temperature which
then condenses into liquid of high pressure.
c. The liquid evaporates due to its low pressure and
heat is absorbed from the contents of the
refrigerator.
d. The gas produced that has already absorbed heat
goes back to the compressor and then the cycle
repeats.
Heat engine a device that changes thermal energy into
mechanical work.
Two kinds of heat engines
Internal combustion engine- the fuel is combusted inside
the engine chamber.
Examples- Gasoline, diesel engine and our human body
External combustion engine- when the fuel combustion
takes place outside the engine.
Examples- steam, piston engine and the atmosphere
Heat engine is a device that changes thermal energy into
mechanical work
Four cycle-stroke in a gasoline engine
Intake stroke- the inlet valve opens, the piston moves down
as the fuel-air mixture fills in the cylinder.
Compression stroke- the piston moves up and compresses the
mixture-adiabatically
Power stroke- the spark plug ignites the mixture making its
temperature high. Adiabatic process tends to push the piston
down.
Exhaust stroke- the burned gases are pushed out of the
exhaust valve. The intake valve once again opens and the cycle
repeats.
*The exhaust gases such as carbon dioxide and halogens
constitute as air pollutants. These may cause thermal pollution.

Thermal Pollution refers to the harmful effects on the

environment of the heat exhausted by heat engines
and refrigerators into the environment (through the air or
in rivers and lakes). The heat exhausted by engines and
refrigerators is a consequence of low thermal
efficiencies of these machines.