12 lectures on Classical Thermodynamics as part of the course PHYS10352: Properties of Matter.

  • Week 1 (slides)
    1. Course Overview
    2. Introduction
      2.1 θερμωσ δυναμισ
      2.2 Energy and Empire
    3. Ideal Gases
      3.1 The ideal gas law
      3.2 Intensive & Extensive variables
      3.3 Worked Example - Gabriela Mistral Nebula
    4. The 1st law of thermodynamics
      4.1 Overview
      4.2 Free expansion of an ideal gas
      4.3 Isothermal expansion of an ideal gas
      4.4 Reversible Processes
      4.5 Worked Example - Joule’s Honeymoon
    5. Summary
  • Week 2 (slides)
    1. Recap
    2. The 1st law of thermodynamics
      2.1 Calculating the work done
      2.2 Worked Example - Elastic String
      2.3 Indicator diagrams
      2.4 Specific Heat Capacities
      2.5 Adiabatic Processes
      2.6 Worked Example - Lightning Strike
    3. Summary
  • Week 3 (slides)
    1. Recap
    2. Heat Engines
      2.1 Stirling Cycle
      2.2 Refrigerator
    3. The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics
      3.1 Kelvin-Planck Statement
      3.2 Clausius Statement
    4. The Carnot Cycle
      4.1 Carnot’s Theorem
      4.2 Carnot Efficiency
      4.3 Worked Example - Heat Pump
    5. Summary
  • Week 4 (slides)
    1. Recap
    2. Entropy
      2.1 Clausius’ Inequality
      2.2 The definition of Entropy
      2.3 Worked Example - Free Expansion
      2.4 Entropy & the 2nd Law
      2.5 Worked Example - Carnot Efficiency
      2.6 Entropy and Heat Capacity
      2.7 Worked Example - Entropy Change of the Universe
      2.8 The Carnot Cycle Revisited
      2.9 Entropy and The Arrow of Time (non-examinable)
    3. The Fundamental Thermodynamic Relation
      3.1 Worked Example - Entropy Change
    4. Summary
  • Week 5 (slides)
    1. Recap
    2. Spontaneous Processes
    3. Thermodynamic Potentials
      3.1 Helmholtz Free Energy
      3.2 Gibbs Free Energy 3.3 Enthalpy 3.4 Direction of Spontaneous Change 3.5 Worked Example - NH4Cl
    4. Interpretation of the Potentials
      4.1 Internal energy E(S,V)
      4.2 Entropy S(E,V) 4.3 Helmholtz Free Energy F(T,V)=E−TS 4.4 Gibbs Free Energy G(T,P)=F+PV=E−TS+PV
      4.5 Enthalpy H(S,P)=E+PV
    5. Worked Example - H2O
    6. Maxwell Relations
      6.1 Worked Example - Ideal Gas
      6.2 Worked Example - Photon Gas
      6.3 Worked Example - Heat capacities
    7. Summary
  • Week 6 (slides)
    1. Recap
    2. Phase Equilibrium
      2.1 Clausius-Clapeyron Equation
      2.2 Liquid-Gas Indicator Diagram
      2.3 Classification of Phase Transitions
    3. Real Gases
      3.1 Van der Waals Equation
      3.2 Solutions to the VdW Equation
    4. Summary