Page 1 of 1 SPH 2202 – Thermal Physics I Lecture notes

Other simple thermodynamic systems

 A surface
o E.g. the interface of a liquid in equilibrium with vapor, the surface of a soap bubble
stretched across a wire framework, a thin film of oil on the surface of water, etc.
o Sufficiently described using three thermodynamic variables: surface tension on the
surface γ, area occupied by the surface A and temperature T.

 An electrochemical cell
o E.g. as found in a car battery.
o Sufficiently described using three thermodynamic variables: the emf generated ε,
charge Q and temperature T.

 A dielectric slab
o Material that is placed between the plates of a capacitor.
o Dielectric polarization – results from accumulation of opposite charge on either side
of a dielectric material when an electric field E is applied across the plates of a
capacitor.
o The total polarization P depends on the nature, temperature and volume of the
dielectric. However, under standard atmospheric pressure, volume can be ignored, so
that a dielectric slab can be sufficiently described using the thermodynamic variables:
the electric field E, total polarization P and temperature T.

 A paramagnetic rod
o Material that is placed between the poles of a magnet.
o Analogous to polarization, magnetization of a paramagnetic material results from
microscopic currents that are induced by an applied magnetic field.
o Sufficiently described using the thermodynamic variables: the magnetic field
(strength) H, total magnetization M, and temperature T.

NB: Supplement your learning from the lecture and lecture notes by independent study and discussions.