FC312E
PHYSICS
Theme: 7 Hour: 3 Thermal Physics
Module Learning Outcome
Identify different methods of heat
transfer
Apply in real-world contexts
Academic Literacy
Use theoretical concepts to analyse real-world
practices. 
Develop ability to read, comprehend and express
mathematical arguments
Use subject-specific vocabulary effectively.
HEAT TRANSFER
 Outline (Hour 3)
• Phase equilibrium - triple point

• Exchange of heat

• Conduction - thermal conductivity coefficient

• Conduction: parallel vs series

• Convection - day vs night

• Radiation

• Blackbody - Stefan-Boltzmann law

Conduction, Convection, Radiation
 Phase Equilibrium
• When phases are in equilibrium the number of
molecules in each phase remains constant
• It is a dynamic equilibrium: the numbers of molecules
leaving and entering a given phase are the same at
equilibrium
EQUILIBRIUM

A liquid in equilibrium with its vapour

 Phase Equilibrium
The pressure of the gas when it is in equilibrium with the
liquid is called the equilibrium vapor pressure, and will
depend on the temperature.
 Phase Diagram
PRESSURE

TEMPERATURE
 Equilibrium Curves
• Vapour pressure curve represents the equilibrium
between gas and liquid.

• A liquid boils at the temperature at which its vapour

pressure is equal to the external pressure

• Fusion curve represents the equilibrium between

solid and liquid phases

• Sublimation curve: represents the equilibrium

between solid and gas phases
 Phase Equilibrium
The fusion curve is the
boundary between the solid and
liquid phases; along that curve
they exist in equilibrium with
each other.
Almost all materials have a
fusion curve that resembles (a);
water, due to its unusual
properties near the freezing
point, follows (b).
 Phase Equilibrium
Finally, the sublimation curve marks the boundary between
the solid and gas phases. The triple point is where all three
phases are in equilibrium. This is shown on the phase
diagram below.
 Phase Equilibrium

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoH7sdCaa4g
 Triple Point
• The point on the phase diagram at a
particular temperature and pressure where
all three phases are at equilibrium

• The triple point of water is at T = 273.16 K

and P = 4.58 mmHg = 611.657 Pa: ice, water and
steam are in equilibrium
 Triple Point

Titan is a moon orbiting Saturn. It has a

surface temperature of 94 degrees Kelvin.
The conditions allow for the triple point of
methane – there is methane ice, liquid lakes
and atmospheric vapour on this moon.
 Phase Changes
• When heat is exchanged within a system,
with no exchanges with the surroundings,
the energy of the system is conserved

• The magnitude of heat lost by one part of

the system is equal to the magnitude of heat
gained by another
 Exchange of Heat
• Heat can be exchanged in a variety of ways.
• The Sun, for example, warms the Earth from across
150 million kilometres of empty space by a process
known as radiation.
• As the sunlight strikes the ground and raises its
temperature, the ground-level air gets warmer and
begins to rise, producing a further exchange of heat by
means of convection.
• Finally, if you walk across the ground in bare feet, you
will feel the warming effect of heat entering your body
by conduction.
 Exchange of Heat
• Heat flows directly through a material with no
bulk motion.

• The heat flows as a result of the interactions of

individual atoms with their neighbours.

• Conduction depends on the kind of material.

Some materials conduct heat very well (e.g.
metals), whereas some are poor conductors
(e.g. wood). The latter are called insulators.
 CONDUCTION
How much heat flows?

 T  time
Q  kA t
 L 
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
 Conduction
• Some typical thermal
conductivities:

• Substances with high

thermal conductivities
are good conductors of
heat; those with low
thermal conductivities
are good insulators.
 Convection
• Heat exchange due to the bulk motion of an
unevenly heated fluid.

• Heating in homes is mostly based on

convection as rising warm air sets up a
circulating flow of air that transports heat
through the room.
 Convection
Day: the Sun warms the
land more rapidly than the
water (the land has lower
specific heat than the
water).
The warm land heats the
air above it, which
becomes less dense and
raises. Cooler air from
over the water flows in to
take its place, producing a
“sea breeze”.
 Convection

Night: the lands cools

off more rapidly than the
water because of its
lower specific heat. The
air above the relative
warm water raises and is
replaced by cooler air
from over the land,
producing a “land
breeze”.
 Radiation
• Heat exchange due to electromagnetic
radiation, such as infrared rays and light.

• Radiation has no need for a physical

material (as convection and conduction)
to mediate the energy transfer (e.m.
waves can propagate through vacuum).
 Radiation
Stefan-Boltzmann law for radiated power

𝟒
𝑷 =𝒆 𝝈 𝑨𝑻
emissivity 0 ≤ e ≤ 1
how effectively the Stefan-Boltzmann
body radiates constant
energy
s = 5.67 x 10-8 W/(m2 K4)
 Radiation

e = 1 BLACKBODY
perfect emitter and also perfect absorber

e = 0 IDEAL REFLECTOR
no energy radiated and no radiation
absorbed
Heat Transfer: Thermos Flask
The inside of a Thermos
bottle is highly reflective
and radiates very little of
the energy contained in
the hot liquid inside.
There is also a vacuum
between the inner and
outer walls. This limits
the flow of heat to
radiation since
convection and
conduction do not occur
in vacuum.
 Heat Transfer: Example
A human’s skin has a surface area of around 1.15m2 and
a surface temperature of 303 K. Find the net radiated
power from this person when:

a. The surrounding temperature is 20°C; and

b. The surrounding temperature is 0°C.

Your may assume that e = 0.900 for skin.

 Heat Transfer: Example
Use P = eσA(T4 – Ts4), for net change in power, where
Ts is the temperature of the surroundings.

a. P = 62.1 W
b. P = 169 W

So the rate of energy transfer is higher when the

temperature difference is higher.