CAMBRIDGE A LEVEL

PHYSICS
MATTER
THERMAL
PROPERTIES OF
MATTER
LEARNI NG OUTCOMES
No. LEARNING OUTCOME
i Relate internal energy to the average potential energies and
average kinetic energies. Relate changes in internal energy with
changes in temperature.
ii Define specific latent heat (of fusion and vaporisation) and
specific heat capacity. Explain electrical methods to determine
the specific latent heat and specific heat capacity. Solve simple
problems involving these two quantities.
iii Compare the phase change processes of melting and boiling by
comparing the specific latent heats of fusion and vaporisation.
iii Define and use the first law of thermodynamics
I NTERNAL ENERGY
Each of the gas molecule has a certain
amount of energy.
This energy is the kinetic energy,
associated with its movement, and the
potential energy due to the forces that
exist between the gas molecules.
I NTERNAL ENERGY
In addition all the molecules will have
different kinetic energies as some are
moving faster and some slower and also
different amount of potential energies
as this energy is dependent on the
position of the molecule in a given
container.
I NTERNAL ENERGY
We can now say that the kinetic energies
of each of the molecules are randomly
distributed, and the potential energy of
each of the molecule also follows a
randomdistribution.
I NTERNAL ENERGY
When we add the kinetic energies and
potential energies of all the gas
molecules, we remove the random
nature of the energies.
What we get is known as the internal
energy of the gas.
I NTERNAL ENERGY
Definition: The internal energy of a
substance is the sum of the random
distribution of kinetic and potential
energies of all the molecules associated
with the system.
I NTERNAL ENERGY
How do temperature and internal energy of How do temperature and internal energy of
a substance are related?
When the internal energy of a substance
increases, in certain cases, the temperature
of the substance also increases.
When the internal energy of a substance
decreases, it is often, but not always
associated with a drop in temperature of the
substance.
SPECI FI C LATENT HEAT
calor.php
Definition: Specific latent heat is the amount
of thermal energy needed to cause phase
change to occur in per unit mass of a
substance without any change in
temperature.
How do we determine the specific latent heat
of a substance? Answer: Please go to:
http://www.a-levelphysicstutor.com/therm-
calor.php
EXAMPLES
Questions 18 and 19; Set 49: Change of Temperature and Change of Phase ; page 131;
PROBLEMS IN PHYSICS ; E.D GARDINER, B.L McKITTRICK; McGraw Hill Book Company, Sydney
1985.
SPECI FI C HEAT CAPACI TY
Definition: Specific heat capacity is the
amount of thermal energy needed to cause a
unit temperature change per unit mass of a
substance without any change in phase.
How do we determine the specific heat
capacity of a substance? Answer: Please go to:
http://www.a-levelphysicstutor.com/therm-
calor.php
EXAMPLES
Questions 4 and 5; Set 49: Change of Temperature and Change of Phase ; page 131; PROBLEMS
IN PHYSICS ; E.D GARDINER, B.L McKITTRICK; McGraw Hill Book Company, Sydney 1985.
EXAMPLES
Question 25; Set 49:
Change of Temperature
and Change of Phase ;
page 131; PROBLEMS IN
PHYSICS ; E.D GARDINER,
B.L McKITTRICK; McGraw
Hill Book Company,
Sydney 1985.
EXAMPLES
Question 25; Set 49: Change of Temperature and Change of Phase ; page 131; PROBLEMS IN
PHYSICS ; E.D GARDINER, B.L McKITTRICK; McGraw Hill Book Company, Sydney 1985.
EXAMPLES
EXAMPLES
Question 25; Set 49: Change of Temperature and Change of Phase ; page 131; PROBLEMS IN
PHYSICS ; E.D GARDINER, B.L McKITTRICK; McGraw Hill Book Company, Sydney 1985.
EXAMPLES
Example; Section 6.3 The Gas Laws, Page 145, Chapter 6: Thermal Physics ,
International A/AS Level Physics, by Mee, Crundle, Arnold and Brown, Hodder
Education, United Kingdom, 2008.
MELTI NG, BOI L I NG AND
EVAPORATI ON
MELTI NG, BOI L I NG AND
EVAPORATI ON
Now that we know what internal
energy is, we can use our
understanding of internal energy to
explain:
1. Why melting and boiling occur at a
constant temperature for a specific
substance?
MELTI NG, BOI L I NG AND
EVAPORATI ON
MELTI NG, BOI L I NG AND
EVAPORATI ON
2. The specific latent heat of
vaporisation is higher than the
specific latent heat of fusion for the
same substance?
3. Why liquids that undergo
evaporation will cool?
MELTI NG, BOI L I NG AND
EVAPORATI ON
MELTI NG, BOI L I NG AND
EVAPORATI ON
Melting and boiling involve change of phase. Melting and boiling involve change of phase.
During melting a solid changes its state into
liquid at a constant temperature. During
boiling, a liquid changes state into gas also
without any change in temperature.
In solids, the stored potential energy due to
the attraction and repulsion of the molecules
is more negative (greater in magnitude) as
compared to that in liquids due to the
stronger bonds between molecules in solids.
MELTI NG, BOI L I NG AND
EVAPORATI ON
MELTI NG, BOI L I NG AND
EVAPORATI ON
In order to liquefy, the stronger bonds need In order to liquefy, the stronger bonds need
to be weakened (i.e. the potential energy
made more positive / increased).
During melting, the thermal energy supplied
is used to weaken the bonds between
molecules without increasing the average
kinetic energy of the molecules. Hence,
solids melt without any increase in
temperature.
MELTI NG, BOI L I NG AND
EVAPORATI ON
MELTI NG, BOI L I NG AND
EVAPORATI ON
In liquids, the stored potential energy due to In liquids, the stored potential energy due to
the attraction and repulsion of the molecules is
more negative (greater in magnitude) as
compared to that in gases due to the stronger
bonds between molecules in liquids.
During boiling, the thermal energy supplied is
used to weaken the bonds between molecules
without increasing the average kinetic energy of
the molecules. Hence, liquids melt without any
increase in temperature.
MELTI NG, BOI L I NG AND
EVAPORATI ON
MELTI NG, BOI L I NG AND
EVAPORATI ON
Source: http://www.kshitij-school.com/Study-Material/Class-11/Physics/Heat-and-
first-law-of-thermodynamics/Latent-heat/2.jpg
MELTI NG, BOI L I NG AND
EVAPORATI ON
MELTI NG, BOI L I NG AND
EVAPORATI ON
The data in the table compares the
specific latent heats of fusion and
vaporisation. You will observe that the
specific latent heats of vaporisation will
be higher than the specific latent heats
of fusion for all the substances given?
Why is this so?
MELTI NG, BOI L I NG AND
EVAPORATI ON
MELTI NG, BOI L I NG AND
EVAPORATI ON
process for the same substance.
1. When a unit mass of a substance changes
phase from a liquid to gas, it undergoes a
greater increase in volume as compared to
when a solid changes into a liquid.
2. This means that the required amount of
change of average potential energy per unit
mass during the vaporisation process is
much greater than that for the fusion
process for the same substance.
MELTI NG, BOI L I NG AND
EVAPORATI ON
MELTI NG, BOI L I NG AND
EVAPORATI ON
energy of the molecules!
3. Hence, the required increase in internal
energy per unit mass would be larger in
boiling (or condensation) as compared to
melting (or solidifying) for the same
substance.
4. Please note that the thermal energy
changes the average potential energy of
the molecules, and not the average kinetic
energy of the molecules!
MELTI NG, BOI L I NG AND
EVAPORATI ON
MELTI NG, BOI L I NG AND
EVAPORATI ON
The after effects of sweating involve
cooling. Why does this occur?
During evaporation, the fastest moving
molecules , i.e the molecules with the
greatest kinetic energies on the surface of
the liquid undergo a change in phase (into
gas).
MELTI NG, BOI L I NG AND
EVAPORATI ON
MELTI NG, BOI L I NG AND
EVAPORATI ON
This causes a reduction in the average
kinetic energy of the liquid.
A reduction in the average kinetic energy
would reduce the temperature of the liquid.
This is because the average kinetic energy is
proportional to the temperature of the
liquid.
F I RST L AW OF
T HE RMODYNAMI CS
F I RST L AW OF
T HE RMODYNAMI CS
It is a good idea first to understand
what is meant by the term system
and its surroundings.
It is up to us to define the system
(and surroundings).
F I RST L AW OF
T HE RMODYNAMI CS
F I RST L AW OF
T HE RMODYNAMI CS
For example, if we have cylinder that is
fitted with a piston that contains an ideal
gas, then:
I. the ideal gas alone could be the system, then
the cylinder and piston and everything else
would be the surroundings;
II. the cylinder, piston and ideal gas can be the
system. In this case everything else will be the
surrounding.
F I RST L AW OF
T HE RMODYNAMI CS
F I RST L AW OF
T HE RMODYNAMI CS
If we have an electrical heater that is
placed in a beaker containing a liquid, the
system could either be:
I. the heater only , in this case the liquid
and the beaker and everything else is the
surroundings; or
II. the heater, the liquid and the beaker; i.e
everything else is the surrounding.
F I RST L AW OF
T HE RMODYNAMI CS
F I RST L AW OF
T HE RMODYNAMI CS
Definition: The first law of thermodynamics
states that the change in the amount of
internal energy of a system is equal to the
sum of the amount of the work done on the
system and the amount of thermal energy
added to the system.
F I RST L AW OF
T HE RMODYNAMI CS
F I RST L AW OF
T HE RMODYNAMI CS


Mathematically, ; where
the change in internal energy, the
thermal energy added to the system; and
the work done on the system (by the
surroundings).
F I RST L AW OF
T HE RMODYNAMI CS
F I RST L AW OF
T HE RMODYNAMI CS
What this means is we can change the internal
energy of a system either by:
I. adding to ( or removing from (
thermal energy in a system;
II. The surrounding doing work on a system (,
or the system doing work on the surroundings
();
III. Both I and II above
EXAMPLES
Examples; Page 156, Section 6.6: The first law of Thermodynamics, Chapter 6:
Thermal Physics; International A/AS Level Physics, by Mee, Crundle, Arnold and
Brown, Hodder Education, United Kingdom, 2008.
F I RST L AW OF
T HE RMODYNAMI CS
F I RST L AW OF
T HE RMODYNAMI CS
The second example is what we call an
isothermal process; i.e. a process that
occurs at constant temperature.
In an isothermal process, there is no
change in the internal energy of the
system.
F I RST L AW OF
T HE RMODYNAMI CS
F I RST L AW OF
T HE RMODYNAMI CS
If heat is added to the system ( )
undergoing an isothermal process, the system
will do work on the surroundings () equal
to the amount of heat added.
If heat is removed from the system ( ) ,
then the surrounding will do work on the
system() .
EXAMPLES
Questions ; Page 157, Section 6.6: The first law of Thermodynamics, Chapter 6:
Thermal Physics; International A/AS Level Physics, by Mee, Crundle, Arnold and
Brown, Hodder Education, United Kingdom, 2008.
EXAMPLES
Question 8: Exam style questions ; Page 163, Section 6.6: The first law of
Thermodynamics, Chapter 6: Thermal Physics; International A/AS Level Physics, by
Mee, Crundle, Arnold and Brown, Hodder Education, United Kingdom, 2008.
EXAMPLES
Question 9; Set 50: Thermodynamics ; page 134; PROBLEMS IN PHYSICS ; E.D
GARDINER, B.L McKITTRICK; McGraw Hill Book Company, Sydney 1985.
HOMEWORK
1. Question 2, Paper 4, Winter 2008. 1. Question 2, Paper 4, Winter 2008.
2. Question 3, Paper 4, Summer 2009.
3. Question 3, Paper 41, Winter 2009.
4. Question 2, Paper 42, Winter 2009.
5. Question 2, Paper 41, Summer 2010.
6. Question 3, Paper 42, Summer 2010.
7. Question 2, Paper 41, Winter 2010.
8. Question 2, Paper 43, Winter 2010.
HOMEWORK
9. Question 2, Paper 41, Winter 2011.
10.Question 1, Paper 43, Winter 2011.
11.Question 2, Paper 43, Winter 2011.