Chapter 4: Heat

4.1 Understanding thermal equilibrium

A) The difference between Temperature And heat
Temperature

Heat

Is the degree of hotness of a

body

Is a form of energy

Is a base quantity

Is a derived quantity

Depends upon the kinetic

energy of the molecules

Depend upon temperature,

mass and type of material
( spesific heat capacity or
specific latent heat)
( Q = mc or Q = ml) )
The S.I. unit is Joule(J)

The S.I. unit is K

Other unit = 0C
Measured by thermometer

Measured by Joulemeter

Kelvin Scale (K)

The temperature of a substance in Kelvin , also known as
absolute temperature
o C = ( + 273 ) K

a)P and Q are now in thermal equilibrium

b)The net transfer of energy or heat
transferred = 0
3)
Thermal equilibrium is a state which
a) There is no net flow of heat between two
objects
b) Temperature of the two object are equal
4) Two object at different temperatures in
thermal contact will eventually come to a
state of thermal equilibrium regardless of
a) Mass
b) Size
c) shape
d) Type of material
5) Good thermal contact ensures that the
objects come to thermal equilibrium after a
shorter period of time

6) Examples of thermal equilibrium

a) Measuring the temperature of
patient
B) Thermal equilibrium (zeroth law of thermodynamics)
--- thermometer is initially at room
temperature
--- while body of patient is at a higher
P
Q
P
Q
P
Q
temperature
Hot
Cold
obje
obje
--- heat energy is transferred from the
a)ct
Initial
state
b) before thermal
c)
ct
patient to the
at thermal
thermometer
Equilibrium
--- after sometime, thermometer shows a
equilibrium
steady
reading (thermal equilibrium between
(net transfer of heat) (no net
patient and
transfer of
thermometer)
heat)
--reading
of thermometer equal to
1)
When hot object comes into thermal
temperature
of
contact with a cold object, heat is transferred
Patient
from the hotter object to the colder object.
b)Cooking using an oven
a) P transfer energy at a higher rate to Q
--- oven has a thermostat to keep its
b) Q transfer energy at a lower rate to P
temperature
c) P loses energy and cools down
constant
d) Q gains energy and warms up
--- when food is placed in an oven, the
e) There is a net transfer of energy from P to
food absorbs
Q. The energy transferred is known as heat.
heat from the oven thereby causing its
TP decreases whereas TQ increases.
temperature to rise
f) P and Q are said to be in dynamic
--the
process continue until thermal
equilibrium as energy exchange still goes
equilibrium is
on between the 2 object.
reached
c) Cooling with a refrigerator
2)
After some time,
d)Making a cup of warm drink
Rate of transfer of energy from P to Q =
e)Carrying a bowl with hot soup
rate of transfer of energy from Q to P

Chapter 4: Heat
4.1 Understanding thermal equilibrium
--- after some very hot soup is poured into
a bowl, a
person may able to carry the bowl with
bare
hands
--- but if wait longer, the bowl and hot
soup will
reach thermal equilibrium
--- the bowl is at higher temperature (may
have to
use a piece of cloth to carry the bowl
then)

X100
X0

Freeze some pure water.

Crush the ice into small and fill a funnel with them.
When the ice begins to melt inset the bulb of a thermometer so
that it is covered with ice.

C) Change in physical properties of

materials with temperature
1) The physical property of a substance which
is sensitive to and varies linearly with
changes in temperature of the material is
known as thermometric property.
2) Important application of thermometric
property of a substance is in the
construction of thermometer.
3) Example of thermometric properties:
Thermometer

Thermometric property

Mercury
thermometer

Volume of mercury varies with

temperature

Resistance
thermometer

Electrical resistance of a wire

varies with temperature

Thermocouple
thermometer

Electromotive force (e.m.f)

varies with temperature

Gas thermometer

Gas pressure varies with

temperature

When the mercury stops shrinking , mark the stem of the

thermometer at the mercury level, as 0oC.
Now arrange the thermometer inside a flask so that its bulb is just
above the surface of boiling water.
When the mercury stops expanding , mark its level on the
thermometer stem ,as 100oC.
Divide the distance between the marks 0oC and 100oC into 100
equal parts, marked as a scale along the stem.
5) The formula is used to calibrate a thermometer

4) Calibration of thermometer

= temperature of a substance
o= ice point
100= steam point
xo = the length of the mercury column at
ice point

Chapter 4: Heat
4.1 Understanding thermal equilibrium
x100 = the length of the mercury column at
steam point
x = the length of the mercury column when
the thermometer is placed in a
substance
6) Liquid in-glass thermometer

The specific thermometric property in used in this thermometer

the changes of the volumes of mercury with the temperature i.e
when the temperature increases ,the volume of the mercury
increases.
The sensitivity of the thermometer can be increased by
1
using a thinner-walled glass bulb
2
small bulb
3
reducing the diameter of the capillary tube
Mercury is used in the thermometer because
1 has a higher boiling point
2 does not vaporize readily
3 low freezing point
4 does not stick to the glass
5 is opaque and therefore it is easier to read.
6 expands and contracts uniformly
7 good conductor of heat