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Theme B — The Particulate Nature of Matter

B.4 Thermodynamics — IB Physics HL Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 10 parts Lesson 32 of 53 1 quiz

📚 IB Physics HL Hub / Topical Revision
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Curriculum Equation Key قوانين الرقم الهيدروجيني والاتزان الأيوني - pH & Acid-Base Equilibrium FormulasFast Exam Solution
pH = -log[H⁺] | pOH = -log[OH⁻] | pH + pOH = 14 | [H⁺][OH⁻] = 10⁻¹⁴
Word Equation & Conditions: الرقم الهيدروجيني = -لوغاريتم تركيز أيون الهيدروجين | pH + pOH = 14
Location & Specifications: الاتزان الأيوني، كيمياء 3 ثانوي، التحصيلي، و AP Chemistry.
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Lesson summary

B.4 Thermodynamics — IB PHYSICS HL notes: Apply the first and second laws of thermodynamics to ideal gases, the four thermodynamic processes, entropy and heat-engine cycles.Internal energy of an ideal gas — all of it is random kinetic energy because ideal gas molecules have no in…

  • Work at constant pressure
  • Work when pressure changes
  • Sign convention
  • All processes
  • Pressure–volume relation
  • Temperature–volume relation

Part 1 of 8Internal energy and work done by a gas

Internal energy and work done by a gas
Internal energy of an ideal gas
  • Internal energy of an ideal gas all of it is random kinetic energy because ideal gas molecules have no intermolecular forces
  • ΔU = (3/2)NkBΔT = (3/2)nRΔT
  • ΔU is proportional to the change in thermodynamic temperature in kelvin
Work at constant pressure
  • W = pΔV
  • W is positive when the gas expands and negative when it is compressed
  • The pressure is that of the surroundings, which changes very slowly
Work when pressure changes
  • Work when pressure changes the work equals the area under the curve on a p–V diagram
  • No work is done when the volume is constant

Part 2 of 8First law of thermodynamics

1Statement
  • Statement energy supplied by heating = increase in internal energy + work done by the system
  • Q = ΔU + W, based on conservation of energy
  • It applies to every system, not only to gases
2Sign convention
  • Q is positive when heat enters the system and W is positive when the system does work
  • ΔU is positive when the internal energy rises
3Cycle
  • Cycle over a whole cycle ΔU = 0 so the net heat equals the net work

Part 3 of 8The four thermodynamic processes

ProcessFixed quantityResult from Q = ΔU + W
IsovolumetricV constantW = 0 so Q = ΔU
Isobaricp constantW = pΔV so Q = ΔU + pΔV
IsothermalT constantΔU = 0 so Q = W
AdiabaticQ = 0W = −ΔU, so the temperature changes
  • All processes
    • the gas is assumed to be ideal

Part 4 of 8Adiabatic changes of a monatomic ideal gas

Adiabatic changes of a monatomic ideal gas
Pressure–volume relation
  • Pressure–volume relation pV5/3 = constant
  • p1V15/3 = p2V25/3
Temperature–volume relation
  • TV2/3 = constant, found by substituting p = nRT/V
  • T1V12/3 = T2V22/3
Curve shape
  • Curve shape an adiabatic curve on a p–V diagram is steeper than an isothermal curve through the same point

Part 5 of 8Entropy

Meaning
  • Meaning entropy is a measure of the number of possible arrangements of the particles and their energy
  • Entropy rises in the order solid, liquid, gas
Microscopic equation
  • S = kB ln Ω where Ω is the number of microstates
  • ΔS = kB ln(Ω2/Ω1)
Macroscopic equation
  • ΔS = Q/T at constant temperature
  • Heat gained gives ΔS > 0 and heat lost gives ΔS < 0

Part 6 of 8Second law of thermodynamics

1Entropy form
  • Entropy form the total entropy of an isolated system always increases
  • For a non-isolated system the entropy of the Universe must increase
2Clausius form
  • Clausius form thermal energy cannot spontaneously transfer from a colder region to a hotter region
3Kelvin form
  • Kelvin form it is impossible to convert all the energy extracted from a heat reservoir into work
4Reversible and irreversible
  • Reversible and irreversible a reversible process leaves the total entropy unchanged, a real (irreversible) process increases it

Part 7 of 8Heat engines and the Carnot cycle

1Heat engine
  • Heat engine a device that takes heat QH from a hot reservoir, does work and rejects QC to a cold reservoir
  • Wout = QH − QC equals the area of the p–V loop
2Efficiency
  • η = Wout/QH = 1 − QC/QH
3Carnot cycle
  • Carnot cycle the reversible cycle of isothermal expansion, adiabatic expansion, isothermal compression and adiabatic compression
  • Its efficiency is the maximum possible, ηC = 1 − TC/TH with temperatures in kelvin

Part 8 of 8More from the specification

Thermodynamics of a gas
  • Thermodynamics of a gas a piston compresses the gas so final volume is less than the initial volume
Work done by gas
  • W = P times change in volume at constant pressure, being the area under a P-V graph
Entropy
  • Entropy a measure of disorder, which decreases for a system when heat leaves it, though the total entropy of the universe does not decrease
Calculating changes
  • Calculating changes use first law, Q = change in U + W, and when volume decreases work is done on the gas
Piston
  • A moving part in a cylinder that applies or receives pressure.
Atmospheric pressure
  • Pressure of the air, about 1.01 × 105 Pa at sea level.

Key terms

TermMeaning
IsobaricA process at constant pressure, W = pΔV.
IsovolumetricA process at constant volume in which no work is done.
IsothermalA process at constant temperature, so ΔU = 0 for an ideal gas.
AdiabaticA process in which no heat enters or leaves the system, Q = 0.
EntropyA measure of the number of possible arrangements of particles and energy, S = kB ln Ω.
Heat engineA device that converts thermal energy into mechanical work using a closed cycle.
Carnot efficiencyThe maximum efficiency of an engine between two reservoirs, 1 − TC/TH.

Avoid these mistakes

1
Taking the temperature change in °C as a ratio — internal energy is proportional to the change in kelvin, so heating from 50 °C to 150 °C does not triple it.
2
Saying an adiabatic change has no temperature change — Q = 0 but the work done changes the internal energy so the temperature changes.
3
Using the Carnot formula with Celsius temperatures — TC and TH must be in kelvin.
4
Claiming a heat engine can convert all input heat to work — some heat must always be rejected to the cold reservoir.

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