THERMODYNAMICS
The branch of physics which deals with the transformation of heat energy into other forms of
energy and vice versa is called thermodynamics
Thermodynamics is a macroscopic science. It involves the description of matter in terms of
macroscopic properties such as pressure , temperature ,volume.
IMPORTANT TERMS RELATED TO THERMODYNAMICS
THERMODYNAMIC SYSTEM
A physical system under consideration is called as thermodynamic system. The system may
be in the form of solid, liquid, gas or combination of 2 or more of these.
Ex: A large collection of gas molecules is a system
A system can be divided into 3 classes
OPEN SYSTEM: A system that can exchange both energy and matter with the surroundings
CLOSED SYSTEM: A system that can exchange only energy and not matter with the
surroundings
ISOLATED SYSTEM: A system that can neither exchange energy nor matter with the
surroundings
ENVIRONMENT OR SURROUNDINGS
The region or matter outside the system is its surroundings.
The wall between the system and the surroundings are of two types
DIATHERMIC WALL: allow the heat to pass through it
ADIABATIC WALL: does not allow the heat to pass through it
THERMODYNAMIC CO-ORDINATES OR VARIABLES: The physical properties which completely
describe the thermodynamic system such as pressure(p), volume (V) ,temperature(T)
Thermodynamic variables are of two types
INTENSIVE VARIABLES: Variables which are independent of size of system are intensive
variables.
Ex: temperature, pressure
EXTENSIVE VARIABLES: Variables which depends on size or mass of the system
Ex: volume, energy, heat capacity
THERMODYNAMIC STATE: The physical state of existence of thermodynamic system
determined by thermodynamic variables p,V,T
THERMODYNAMIC EQUILIBRIUM: The state of a system is in equilibrium state if the
macroscopic variables that characterize the system do not change with time.
THERMAL EQUILIBRIUM: Two systems are said to be in thermal equilibrium with each other if
they have the same temperature.
ZEROTH LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS
It states that “when the thermodynamic systems A and B are separately in thermal
equilibrium with a third system C then the system A and B are in thermal equilibrium with
each other”
Consider two systems A and B separated by an adiabatic wall which does not allow any
transfer of heat. The two systems A and B are in contact with the third system C through a
diathermic wall which allows transfer of heat. The macroscopic variables of the system A
and B will change until both A and B are in thermal equilibrium with C .
After this is achieved the adiabatic wall between A and B is replaced by diathermic wall and C
is insulated from A and B by an adiabatic wall
Observations show that the states of A and B change no further they are found to be in
thermal equilibrium with each other
If A and B are separately in equilibrium with C
TA =TC ---------(1) T B=TC --------(2)
From eq (1) and eq (2)
TA = T B
The system A and B are also in thermal equilibrium
Importance of the zeroth law of thermodynamics
Zeroth law of thermodynamics introduces to the concept of temperature
HEAT: Heat is a form of energy transferred between the system and its surroundings by the
virtue of temperature difference.
Or
Heat energy is the energy in transit
TEMPERATURE: Temperature of a body measures the degree of hotness or coldness of a body
INTERNAL ENERGY (U): Internal energy of a system is defined as total energy possessed by
the system due to molecular motion and molecular configuration.
We know that a gas consists of large number of molecules in random motion
Internal energy of a system is the sum of internal kinetic energy and internal potential energy
of these molecules
U = UK + Up
Where UK is the energy due to molecular motion and is called the internal kinetic energy
Up is the energy due to molecular configuration and is called internal potential energy
HEAT and WORK are the modes of energy transfer to a system resulting in the change in
internal energy
IDEAL GAS: A gas which obeys all the gas laws is called as ideal gas
EQUATION OF STATE or IDAEL GAS EQUATION
PV = n RT
Where p – pressure
V –volume
R –universal gas constant
T –temperature
n- number of moles in a gas
THERMODYNAMIC PROCESS: A system is said to perform thermodynamic process, if it
undergoes a change from one state to another state.
ISOTHERMAL PROCESS: A thermodynamic process which takes place at constant temperature
is called isothermal process
Ex: melting process is a isothermal change
Slow compression of air in tyre pump
ISOBARIC PROCESS: A thermodynamic process which takes place at constant pressure is
called isobaric process
Ex: boiling of water in a open container
ISOCHORIC PROCESS: A thermodynamic process which takes place at constant volume is
called isochoric process
Ex: when the gas is heated in a tightly sealed container there is no change in volume
ADIABATIC PROCESS: If no heat enters or leaves the system during the process such a process
is called as adiabatic process
Ex: rapid escape of air from burst tyre
Thermos flask
QUASI STATIC PROCESS:
Quasi static means nearly static. The system changes its variables (p,V,T) so slowly that it
remains in thermal and mechanical equilibrium with its surroundings.
Quasi static process is an idealized process in which we imagine that at every stage the
system is in equilibrium state
PV- DIAGRAM OR INDICATOR DIAGRAM
The graphical representation of the state of a given sample of gas with the help of state
variables P and V is called PV diagram
The shape of the PV diagram shall depend upon the nature of the thermodynamic process. In
case of gas as a system the area enclosed by the PV curve and the volume axis gives the work
done during the thermodynamic process