Learning outcomes

After a finished course the students should be able to:

• Describe and apply the physical concepts work, heat, inner energy, temperature, observables, entropy and distributions.
• Describe and apply the empirical laws of thermodynamics.
• Use macroscopic observables and experimental data in technical applications.
• Analyse heat processes and use them in practical applications.
• Calculate the efficiency of heat motors and heat pumps.
• Calculate the thermal conductivity for various geometries.

Content

Matter and energy. Thermo metrics. Macroscopic observables. Classical kinetic theory of gases. The ideal gas law and other simple equations of state for gases and other physical systems. The Maxwellian distributions. The laws of thermodynamics. Thermodynamic variables and equations of state. Macroscopic and microscopic definitions of entropy. The thermodynamic potentials and Maxwells relations. Manipulation and integration of partial derivatives to calculate observables using an equation of state. Changes of phase. Heat processes including some technical applications. Heat conduction and radiation including the usage of Stefan-Boltzmann and Wien laws.

An experimental project in a group of 2-3. Writing of a comprehensive report and presenting it orally at a seminar.

Instruction

Lectures, tutoring, experimental projects in the laboratory.

Assessment

Written exam, project report and the oral presentation.