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0 MECHANICS
Every body continues in its state of rest or of uniform motion in a straight line unless acted on by some
external force.
The rate of change of momentum of a body is directly proportional to the external force acting on the
body and takes place in the direction of the force.
If a body A exerts a force on a body B, then B exerts an equal and opposite force on body A.
The mass of a body is a measure of its resistance to acceleration. It is a measure of the inertia of the
body. The weight of a body is the force exerted on its mass by gravity. Acc. due to gravity, g = 9.81 ms -2
S = ½ (u + v) t s = distance
Laws of Friction
(i) The frictional force between 02 surfaces opposes their relative motion.
(ii) Frictional forces are independent of the area of contact of the surfaces
The total linear momentum of a system of interacting (colliding) bodies, on which no external forces are
acting, remains constant.
Kinetic Energy (K.E) = ½ mv2, Potential Energy (P.E) = mgh (h = height of the body from ground level)
Work done (W) = Constant Applied Force (F) x Distance moved in direction of Force (s)
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2.0 STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OF MATTER
Brownian Motion
Fluids are composed of molecules in a state of continuous random motion. Motion can be made more
pronounced by increasing temperature of the fluid.
Types of Solids
Crystalline Solids – Atoms are arranged in a regular way (e.g. Diamond, graphite)
Amorphous Solids – Atoms are arranged in an irregular way (e.g. glass, wax) & have no definite melting pt
Types of Polymers
Polymers consist of large molecules in the form of long chains, with each chain consisting of small
molecules called monomers. They can be either natural (e.g. rubber, wool) or synthetic.
Thermoplastics – These soften and become more flexible on heating. There are usually weak Van Der
Waal Forces (Non Hydrogen and Non Dipole Dipole Bonds) between the chains (e.g. PVC, HDPE, PTFE).
Thermosetting Plastics – These are more brittle and rigid than thermoplastics. They do not soften on
heating and can withstand higher temperatures (e.g. epoxy resins for adhesives)
Elastomers – These can be stretched considerably and still return to their original lengths when the
stresses are removed (e.g. raw rubber or latex).
Properties of Polymers – The main bonds in polymers are covalent (Non Ionic). This accounts for their
low thermal and electrical conductivities. They are less dense than metals and are usually resistant to
water and acids.
Density of Water = 1.0 x 103 kgm-3, Density of Mercury = 1.36 x 104 kgm-3
Atmospheric Pressure = 1 atm = 1.01 bar = 760 mmHg (Hg = Mercury), Vacuum Pressure = 0
Pascal’s Principle
Any pressure applied to an enclosed fluid is transmitted to every part of the fluid and to the walls of its
container regardless of its shape.
Archimedes Principle
A body immersed (totally or partially) in a fluid experiences an upthrust (apparent loss of weight) which
is equal to the weight of fluid displaced.
Steady Flow – All the fluid particles that pass any given point follow the same path at the same speed.
Laminar Flow –Steady flow in which the velocities of all the particles on any given streamline are the same
Turbulent Flow – Speed and direction of the fluid particles passing any point vary with time
Continuity Equation
If a fluid is undergoing steady flow, then the mass of fluid which enters one end of a tube of flow must
be equal to the mass that leaves at the other end during the same time, meaning flow rate is constant.
Av = constant
Bernoulli Equation
For an incompressible, non viscous fluid undergoing steady flow, sum of pressure kinetic energy per unit
volume and potential energy per unit volume is constant at all points on a streamline.
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3.0 THERMAL PROPERTIES OF MATTER
Types of Thermometers
Advantages of using mercury are that it is opaque and easily seen, it does not stick to glass and is a good
conductor of heat.
Upper temperature limit can be extended up to 800 0C by filling the thermometer with an inert gas like
Nitrogen which increases pressure on the mercury and hence its boiling point.
Lower temperature limit can be extended up to -115 0C by use of alcohol. Alcohol is also more sensitive
to temperature change than mercury but its expansion is very non-linear.
Thermocouple
Thermocouples rely on the fact that EMF is temperature dependent. They use the Thermoelectric or
Seebeck effect to measure temperature. When 02 dissimilar metals are in contact, an EMF is setup at
that point of contact. EMF will increase as the temperature of the junction will increase. EMF is
measures either using a milli-voltmeter or a potentiometer.
Thermocouples have very small heat capacities and so have very little effect on the temperature of the
body they are measuring and thus can measure rapidly fluctuating temperatures.
Resistance Thermometer
Resistance Thermometers rely on the fact that resistances of metals are temperature dependent. They
are usually made of Platinum because of its high temperature coefficient of resistance and high melting
point (17730C).
Platinum Resistance thermometers have relatively large heat capacities, meaning they take a
considerable amount of time to come into thermal equilibrium with their surroundings.
Thermistor
Thermistors, similar to resistance thermometers, rely on their change of electrical resistance with
temperature to measure temperature. But contrary to resistance thermometers, they have negative
temperature coefficient of resistance, meaning their resistance decreases approximately exponentially
with increasing temperature.
Thermistors have very small heat capacities and thus respond quickly. When used with a wheatstone
Bridge, they are as 20 times as sensitive as resistance thermometers.
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Thermistor Range = -70 to 3000C
Gas Laws
pV = nRT
Useful Relationships
Avogadro’s Law
Equal volumes of all gases at the same temperature and pressure (STP) contain the same number of
molecules.
The total pressure of a mixture of gases, which do not interact chemically, is equal to the sum of partial
pressures of each gas.
Thermodynamic Equilibrium
A system is in thermodynamic equilibrium if all parts of it are at the same temperature and pressure.
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Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics
Two bodies which are separately in thermal equilibrium with a third body are also in thermal equilibrium with
each other.
The Heat Energy (ΔQ) supplied to a system is equal to the sum of the increase in the Internal Energy
(ΔU) of the system and the work done (ΔW) by the system on its surroundings. Internal Energy of a
system is the sum of kinetic and potential energies of the molecules of the system.
ΔQ = ΔU + ΔW
Isothermal Process: ΔU = 0
Adiabatic Process: ΔQ = 0
Heat Capacities
Specific Heat Capacity, c = Heat required to produce unit temperature rise in unit mass of substance (J kg -1 0C-1)
Enthalpy, H ΔH = ΔU + pΔV
Adiabatic Process: ΔH = 0
It is not possible to convert heat continuously into work without at the same time transferring some heat
from a warmer body to a colder body.
Entropy, S ΔS = ΔQ/T
ΔQ = Heat absorbed by a system and is so small that the process can be considered to take place at a
constant temperature
CYCLES
Carnot Cycle (Refrigeration), Otto Cycle (Petrol Engine), Diesel Cycle (Diesel Engine), Rankine Cycle (Steam Engine)
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4.0 ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM
R = Resistance (Ω)
σ = Conductivity (Sm-1)
Resistance, R = V/I
Ohm’s Law = I α V
Resistivity, ρ = RA/L
Conductance, G = I/R
Conductivity, σ = I/ ρ
A given source of EMF delivers the maximum amount of power to a load when the resistance of the load is equal
to the internal resistance of the source.
EMF, E = I (R + r)
E = EMF of a cell
R = External resistance
r = Internal resistance
Power, P = IV = I2R.
P = E2R/(R + r)2
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Coulomb’s Law : F α Q1Q2/r2
The EMF of a cell is defined as the energy converted into electrical energy from other forms (chemical,
mechanical) when unit charge passes through it.
The Potential Difference between 02 points in an electric field is equal to the work done in moving a unit positive
charge from the point at the lower potential to that at a higher potential.