Provide the fundamental knowledges of classical thermodynamics
Course Prerequisites
Basic elements of mathematics and geometry at the secondary school level.
Teaching Methods
Lezioni frontali alla lavagna. Il docente fornirà inoltre agli studenti una serie di esercizi da svolgere a casa con lo scopo di migliorare e approfondire la comprensione degli argomenti del corso. Tali esercizi verranno poi corretti durante le circa 4-6 ore di esercitazioni alla lavagna.
Assessment Methods
The exam consists in a written test which last 2 hours, consisting in two exercises of thermodynamics and a question on the theory. The student will be able to show its understanding of the different topics seen during the lectures.
Contents
1) Introduction - state variables of a thermodynamic system. Pressure and temperature of a system at equilibrium. 2) The ideal gases - Determination of the state equations of an ideal gas. Measurement of the temperatures and thermometers. 3) Heat and work – the first principle of thermodynamics. Formulation of the first principle of thermodynamics – definition of the internal energy of a system as a state variable. 4) Kinetic theory of gases – a classical microscopic model for the ideal gas. Relations between thermodynamics macroscopic variables and the microscopic physical quantities.The Clausius Joule formula. Interpretation of the temperature as a measure of the mean kinetic energy of the gas molecules. Internal energy of a monoatomic gas – relation to the principle of equipartition of energy. The Maxwell distribution of the molecular velocities. 5) the 2° principle of thermodynamics The Kelvin and Clausius postulate of the 2° principle of thermodynamics – proof of their equivalence. The performance coefficient of the Carnot cycle of an ideal gas. The Carnot theorem for the heat engine performance. Introduction of the system entropy S as state variable. The principle of entropy increase for an isolated system – relation between entropy and irreversibility, 6) Applications of the 1° and 2° principle to a pure substance (pVT systems) – phase transition. Real gasses – the Van der Waals state equations
Course Language
Italian
More information
The teacher is available by appointment. email: enrico.brambilla@uninsubria.it
