Thermal Concepts

Temperature and thermometers

1. Explain  the concept of thermal equilibrium.

2. Be aware that  temperature is a property that determines the direction of thermal energy transfer between two bodies in thermal contact.

3. Explain how a temperature scale is constructed. 

4. State the relation between the Kelvin and Celsius scales of temperature.

Heat and internal energy

5. State that temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the molecules of a substance.

6. Be aware that  that the kinetic energy of the molecules arises from their translational/rotational motion and that the potential energy of the molecules arises from the forces between the molecules.

7. State that internal energy is the total potential and kinetic energy of molecules in a substance.

8. Explain and distinguish between the macroscopic concepts of temperature, internal energy and heat.

Thermal energy transfer

9. Describe qualitatively, the processes of conduction, convection and radiation. 

10. Describe examples of conduction, convection and radiation.

Lesson 1

Essential Question: What are the differences between thermal and mechanical energy ?

Key Concept: Thermal energy

Purpose: Introduce the basics of thermal energy.

Discussion questions:

1. Compare temperature to mechanical kinetic energy.

2. How is potential energy stored in terms of thermal energy and how does this differ from mechanical potential energy?

3. What is the basis of the Fahrenheit temperature scale?

4. How would you set up an ideal temperature scale?

5. Is outer space cold?

Thermal Properties of Matter

Specific heat capacity

11. Define and distinguish between heat capacity and specific heat capacity.

12. Explain why different substances have different specific heat capacities. (This should be understood in terms of the fact that unit masses of different substances contain different numbers of molecules of different mass.)

13. Describe methods to measure the specific heat capacity of solids and liquids. (The electrical method and the method of mixtures are sufficient. The cooling correction is not included in the calculation. Sources of experimental error should be identified and ways to reduce these should be known. Constant flow techniques are not required.)

14. Solve problems involving specific heat capacities. 

Phases (states) of matter and latent heat

15. Describe the solid, liquid and gaseous states in terms of molecular structure and motion. (Only a simple model is required. The speed distribution in gases should be explained qualitatively. Students should be aware how microscopic structure explains bulk behavior.)

16. Describe and explain the process of phase changes in terms of molecular behavior.

17. Explain in terms of molecular behavior why temperature does not change during a phase change.

18. Define specific latent heat.

19. Describe a method for measuring the specific latent heat of fusion and a method for measuring the specific latent heat of vaporization. (Adding ice to water in a calorimeter would be suitable for fusion and an electrical method would be suitable for vaporization.)

20. Solve problems involving specific latent heats. (Problems may include all three phases of a substance and specific heat calculations.)

21. Describe the evaporation process in a liquid in terms of molecular behavior.

22. Be aware that evaporation takes place at all temperatures and results in the cooling of a liquid.

23. Identify factors that affect evaporation rate. 

Lesson 2

Essential Question: Do we live in a sea of thermal energy?

Key Concept: Heat capacity and latent heat.

Discussion questions:

1. Why can people walk on hot coals?

2. What is the melting point of ice and the freezing point of water? What makes them different?

3. Can an unknown substance be identified by a melting or boiling point?

4. Does every substance have a defined melting or boiling point?

5. If thermal energy is found in everything we touch why can't we tap into it to generate electricity?

Ideal Gases

Gas laws

24. Be aware that real gases deviate from these laws under certain conditions and that an ideal gas is one that follows the gas laws for all values of p, V and T.

25. State the macroscopic gas laws relating pressure, volume and temperature. 1

26. Students should be able to convert between mass and number of moles.

27. Define the terms mole and molar mass.

28. Define the Avogadro constant.

29. State that the equation of state of an ideal gas is pV = nRT. 

30. Describe the concept of the absolute zero and the Kelvin scale.

31. Solve problems using the equation of state of an ideal gas.

32. Kinetic model of an ideal gas

33. Be able to describe how the pressure arises from the collisions of the molecules with the walls of the container.

34. Describe the kinetic model of an ideal gas.

35. Explain the macroscopic behavior of an ideal gas in terms of the molecular model.

Lesson 3

Essential Question: Can a very simplistic model like the perfect gas laws have validity?

Key Concept: Perfect gas laws

Purpose: Introduce the basics of thermodynamic modeling.

Discussion questions:

1. What are the assumptions in the perfect gas laws?

2. Which has more atoms, a mole of lead or a mole of helium?

3. If a gas molecule collided with a vertical wall (y-dimension = vertical) of a vessel quantitatively describe how the molecules x and y components of momentum would change, and describe the force if any it would create.