Thermal physics

Topics

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Sample objectives

What this unit covers

• States of matter: Understand the unique characteristics that differentiate solids, liquids, and gases.
• States of matter: Familiarize yourself with the terminology related to the transitions between solids, liquids, and gases, excluding the processes of gas to solid and solid to gas.
• Particle model: Explain the arrangement, spacing, and movement of particles in solids, liquids, and gases, and illustrate these states with basic particle diagrams.
• Particle model: Discuss how particle motion relates to temperature, including the concept of absolute zero (-273 °C), where particles have minimal kinetic energy.
• Gases and the absolute scale of temperature: Explain how the pressure of a fixed amount of gas changes with temperature at constant volume and with volume at constant temperature, using particle theory.
• Gases and the absolute scale of temperature: Convert temperatures between Kelvin and degrees Celsius, and apply the formula T (in K) = (in °C) + 273.
• Thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases: Qualitatively explain how solids, liquids, and gases expand when heated at a constant pressure.
• Thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases: Identify and describe various everyday uses and effects resulting from thermal expansion.
• Specific heat capacity: Understand that when the temperature of an object increases, its internal energy also rises.
• Specific heat capacity: Explain how the temperature rise of an object relates to the increase in the average kinetic energy of its particles.
• Melting, boiling and evaporation: Explain melting and boiling as processes that involve energy input without a change in temperature.
• Melting, boiling and evaporation: Identify the melting and boiling points of water under standard atmospheric pressure.
• Conduction: Explain experiments that illustrate the characteristics of effective thermal conductors and ineffective thermal conductors (thermal insulators).
• Conduction: Explain thermal conduction in solids by discussing atomic or molecular lattice vibrations and the role of free (delocalised) electrons in metals.
• Convection: Understand that convection is a key process for transferring thermal energy in both liquids and gases.
• Convection: Describe how convection occurs in liquids and gases by relating it to changes in density, and outline experiments that demonstrate convection.
• Radiation: Understand that thermal radiation is a form of infrared radiation and that all objects emit this type of radiation.
• Radiation: Recognize that thermal energy transfer through thermal radiation does not need a medium to occur.
• Consequences of thermal energy transfer: Describe some common everyday uses and effects of conduction, convection, and radiation, such as: (a) heating items like cooking pots (b) warming a room through convection.
• Consequences of thermal energy transfer: Discuss some intricate uses and effects of conduction, convection, and radiation where multiple forms of thermal energy transfer play a role, including: (a) the combustion of wood or coal in a fire (b) the operation of a car radiator.