Thermodynamics 1 – Basic Concept& Definitions
Thermodynamics is
derived from the Greek words,
“therme” meaning heat and
“dynamis” meaning strength,
particularly applied to motion.
Branch of physical sciences
that treats of various phenomena
of energy and the related
properties of matter, specially of
the laws of transformation of heat
into other forms of energy and
vice versa. Also, thermodynamics
is a science which deals with the
concept of energy and
conservation of energy.
Engineering
thermodynamics - will here in
defined as that part of the science
which deals primary with “heat
and work.
Macroscopic
thermodynamics - is the level
on which we live in. It is concern
on the overall effect of the
individual molecular interaction.
The measurements are large
compared with the measurement
of events on the molecular levels,
such as distance in meter, time in
second, etc.
Microscopic
thermodynamics -look at every
molecule and analyze collective
molecular action by statistical
methods.
Laws of Thermodynamics
o The Zeroth law deals with
thermal equilibrium and
establishes a concept of
temperature.
o The 1st law throws light on
concept of internal energy.
o The 2nd law indicates the
limit of converting heat into
work and introduces the
principle of increase of
entropy.
o The 3rd law defines the
absolute zero of entropy
Thermodynamic system -
is that portion of the universe, an
atom or a galaxy, or some certain
quantity of matter, which we
specifically wish to study. It is a
region enclosed by specified
boundaries or by imaginary but
definite mental boundaries.
Boundary - is an imaginary
partition that separates the
system from the surrounding
environment.
Surrounding - is the region
outside the boundary or anything
not in the system.
Note: In many cases, an analysis
is simplified if attention is focused
on a volume in space into which,
or from which, a substance flow.
Such volume is a control volume.
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Thermodynamics 1 – Basic Concept& Definitions
A pump, a turbine, and an
inflating or deflating balloon are
examples of control volume. The
surface that surrounds the control
volume is called the control
surface
Types of System
1. Closed System – one in
which there is no exchange
of matter with the
surroundings; mass does
not cross its boundaries. Ex.
Piston cylinder assembly,
Pressure cooker etc.
Closed System (Piston Cylinder
Assembly)
2. Open System – one in
which there is a flow of
mass across its boundaries.
Ex. Pumps, Hair blower,
Turbine etc.
Open System (Pipe)
3. Isolated System – one
that is completely
impervious to its
surroundings; neither mass
nor energy cross its
boundaries. Ex. Thermos,
Space Shuttles etc.
Property, Phase & State of
the substance
A pure substance is
uniform in chemical composition.
It may exist in more than one
phase in which each phase would
have the same composition.
The condition when three
phases, the solid, liquid and
gaseous phase, coexist is called
triple point.
Property is a characteristic
quality of the entire system and
depends not on how the system
changes state but only on the
final system state.
Process of Change of Phase
1. Melting or Fusion
2. Freezing or Solidifying
3. Vaporization or Evaporation
4. Condensation or
Liquification
5. Sublimation
State – It completely described
how the substance exists.
Knowing the macroscopic
properties, we can determine the
state of a substance.
Two type of Properties
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Thermodynamics 1 – Basic Concept& Definitions

1. Intensive Properties are 1

a∝
properties that are a∝F and m
independent of the mass F
(extent) of the substance - a∝
thus, thus, m
it is also independent of the
size of the system; example
hence,
are temperature and
pressure a=K ( mF )
2. Extensive Property are
properties that depend on or,
the size or extent of the ma
F=
system; examples are mass K
and volume. and,
ma
K=
F
Fundamentals & Derive Units
Fundamental units - are Where K – proportionality
units that are postulated. constant
Derive units - are units
formed from fundamental units.

Thermodynamic Properties
Mass is the absolute
quantity of matter in a substance. System units where K is unity
It is invariant with location: the but not dimensionless.
mass of the body is the same 1. CGS: 1 dyne force
anywhere in the universe. accelerates 1 gm mass at 1
Volume is the amount of cm/s2
space occupied by the mass or gmm−cm
matter. K=1
dyne−s2
Force is defined as the
2. MKS: 1 Newton force
mass times the acceleration.
accelerates 1 kg mass at 1
Newton’s 2nd law of motion -
m/s2
States that “The acceleration of a kg −m
body is directly proportional to K=1 m 2
N −s
the force applied and inversely
3. FPS: 1 lb. force accelerates
proportional to its mass “
1 slug mass at 1 ft/s2

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Thermodynamics 1 – Basic Concept& Definitions

slug−ft Specific Weight / Weight

K=1
lb f −s 2 Density is the weight per unit
volume of the material.
System units where K is not
unity nor dimensionless. W or F g
δ=
V
1. CGS: 1 gm force accelerates also, δ=ρg
1 gm mass at 980.66 cm/s2
Note:
gm −cm Specific weight is to the
K=980. 66 m 2
gm f −s local gravitational acceleration (g)
2. MKS: 1 kg force accelerates as density is to the standard
gravitational acceleration (go).
1 kg mass at 9.8066 m/s2
δ ρ
kg −m =
K=9. 8066 m 2 thus, g go
kg f −s
3. FPS: 1 lb. force accelerates Specific Gravity /
1 lb. mass at 32.174 ft/s2 Relative Density is the ratio of
lb −ft the density of a substance to the
K=32 .174 m 2
lb f −s density of a standard substance. -
for liquid the standard substance
is water and for gas the standard
substance is air at same pressure
and temperature.
Weight is the force due to
the gravitational pull of the earth.

W or F g =mg Temperature is the

measure of hotness and coldness
Density is the mass per
of a body. It is a measure of the
unit volume. It is a measure of the
average linear kinetic energy of
size of the molecules and how
the molecules of the substance,
closely the molecules are spaced
that is, the total kinetic energy of
in a material.
all the molecules divided by the
m
ρ= number of molecules.
V
Specific Volume is volume
per unit mass.
V
ν=
m or Zeroth Law of
1 Thermodynamics
ν=
ρ The zeroth law of
1 thermodynamics state that “when
ρ=
also, ν two bodies are in thermal

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Thermodynamics 1 – Basic Concept& Definitions
equilibrium with a third body,
they are in thermal equilibrium
with each other and hence are at
the same temperature”. Consider
two blocks of material, say, iron; if
these two blocks are brought
together and there is no change
in any observable property,
then the two blocks are said
to be in thermal equilibrium and
their temperature are the same.
Pressure is the force exerted by
a fluid per unit area.
Types of Pressure
Atmospheric pressure is
the pressure associated with the
atmosphere due to the weight of
air. Although this pressure varies
according to location and weather
patterns, an average value at sea
level is 101.325 kPa.
Gauge pressure is the
amount by which pressure differs
from atmospheric pressure. This
is measured with a gauge that
measures the pressure above (or
below) atmospheric pressure. The
gauge pressure below
atmospheric is called vacuum.
Although there is no limit to
how high a pressure can be, there
is a limit to how low it can be. This
point of absolute minimum is the
absolute zero pressure (no
pressure at all). Absolute pressure
is pressure measured above these
zero points.
Pressure Variation with
Liquid Column For a substance of
constant density (such as a
liquid), the pressure at any
vertical position due to the self-
weight of the substance above
the datum is dependent of the
surface area and is given by the
equation:
P=γh
Sample Problems
1. An object having a mass of 9 kg
falls towards the earth because
of gravitational pull. At a
certain time, there is a wind
resistance of 3 kg acting on the
object. Determine the
acceleration of the object.
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Thermodynamics 1 – Basic Concept& Definitions

m=1508.7077 kg m

Given: mg
W=
m = 9kgm k
F = 3 kgf m
kgm−m 1508.7077 kgm ×1,70
k = 9.8066 s2
kgf −s 2 W=
kgm−m
9.8066
kgf −s2
Solution:
ma
F= W =261.5385 kg f
k
Fk
a= ma
m b. F=
kgm−m k
3 kgf × 9.8066 m
kgf −s 2 1508.7077 kgm×10
a= s2
9 kgm F=
kgm−m
9.8066
m kgf −s 2
a=3.2689
s2 F=1538.4615 kg f

m
1508.7077 kgm×10
2. A lunar excursion module (LEM) s2
F=
weights 1500 kgf on earth kgm−m
1
where g=9.75 mps2, (a) what N−s 2
will be its weight on the surface
of the moon where gm=1.70 F=15087.077 N
mps2. (b) on the surface of the
moon, what will be the force in 3. The mass of a fluid system is
kgf and in newtons required to 0.311 slug, its density is 30
accelerate the module at 10 lb./ft3 and g is 31.90 fps 2.
mps2. Determine Specific volume,
specific weight and volume
Given: total.
W = 1500 kgf
m Given:
g = 9.75 2
s M = 0.311 slug
m lb
gm = 1.70 2 ρ=30 3
s ft
g = 31.90 fps2
Solution:
mg mg Solution:
F= ; W= 1
k k V 1
Wk (a). = = lbm = 0.3333
a. m= m ρ 30 3
g ft
kgm−m ft 3
1500 kgf ×9.8066
kgf −s 2 lbm
m=
m
9.75
s2

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Thermodynamics 1 – Basic Concept& Definitions

lbm ft 1
30× 31.90 2
ρg ft 3
s = lbm
(b). = = 40 3
k lbm−ft ft
32.174
lbf −s2
= 0.025
ft 3
lbf lbm
= 29.7445
ft 3
ρg
(d). ¿
lbm k
(c). m= 0.311 slug × 32.174
slug lbm ft
m = 10.006114 lbm
40 3
×31.90 2
ft s
=
10.006114 lbm lbm−ft
32.174
m lbf −s2
V= = lbm
ρ 30 3
ft lbf
V = 0.3335 ft3 = 39.6594
ft 3
4. A cylindrical drum (2ft
diameter, 3ft height) is filled
with a fluid whose density is 40
lb/ft3. Determine the total
volume of flud, total mass in
pounds and slug, Specific
volume and Specific weight (g
= 31.90 fps2).

GIVEN:
d = 2ft
h = 3ft
lbm
𝜌 = 40
ft 3
(d). g = 31.90 fps2

SOLUTION:
(a). V = π r2 h
= π׿

V = 9.43 ft3

m
(b). ρ=
V
m = 𝜌V
lbm
= 40 3
× 9.43 ft3
ft
M = 376 lbm

1
(c). =
ρ