Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics 2020-21

Graeme Ackland is no longer teaching the course, but during the COVID emergencyit will be using his recorded lectures (available on LEARN to UoE students only). Thermodynamics hasn't changed, so the notes, tutorials and solutions are valid and everything linked from this page should be readable.

Prof. Ackland will deal with issues specifically about this webpage, or interesting questions about the tutorials (i.e. not, "please find my missing minus sign..."). Or about chickens.

The lectures weren't designed with recording in mind. They start with an irrelevant quiz while people are arriving, so don't worry about anything before the "Previously on Thermodynamics" slide. I have a good face for radio, so enjoy the fact that I'm off-screen most of the time.

Thermodynamics 2019-20

Welcome to the homepage for Junior Honours Thermal Physics Part 1: Thermodynamics. Here you will find lecture notes, tutorial sheets, hand-in questions etc. The recommended text on which the course is based is "Thermal Physics" by Finn. There are several copies of the second edition in the library. The Third edition "Finn's Thermal Physics" was updated by Andrew Rex. You should also use my Inverted Textbook on Thermodynamics available free online. and Assessment 1: Ramjet. Indicative marking scheme, parts a-i ( 2,2,3,3,5,3,3,2,2) FEEDBACK

Assessment 2: Steam engine Indicative marking scheme, parts a-i ( 2,3,2,3,5,3,3,2,2) FEEDBACK

Assessment 3: Magnetic Fridge Indicative marking scheme, parts a-i ( 3,2,2,3,4,2,3,4,2) FEEDBACK

Assessment 4: Phase Transition Indicative marking scheme, parts 1-7 (2,2,2,4,4,3,4,4). FEEDBACK

Lecture Notes

Notes for all lectures are available here, they may be subject to minor changes. There are two demonstration lectures without formal notes, but the material therein is still examinable.

Exercises

Weekly tutorials will be available here, taken from the free online ebook.
Sheet 1: ( PDF )   Properties of materials: Mainly revision
Sheet 2: ( PDF )   Temperature scales, work, equations of state
Sheet 3: ( PDF )   Work and heat, the First Law, expansion processes
Sheet 4: ( PDF )   Cycles and the Second Law
Sheet 5: ( PDF )   Entropy
Sheet 6: ( PDF )   Thermodynamic potentials
Sheet 7: ( PDF )   Expansion processes again
Sheet 8: ( PDF )   Other Systems
Sheet 9: ( PDF )   Phase transitions
Sheet 10: ( PDF )   Chemical Potential

  • Problem solving is an integral part of the course and you are strongly encouraged and to work through the problems on the tutorial sheets and then to attend the class. Prof Ackland and a team of postgraduate students will act as course tutors. Prof Ackland is easily distracted by discussions of other interesting aspects of physics. This year's demonstator team is.

    Solutions to Exercises

    Extensive and discursive answers to the tutorials are provided online.

    Examination Papers

    The "Thermal Physics" examination is at the end of SECOND semester, in a combined paper with Statistical Mechanics. Single-semester visiting students and Geosciences students have a bespoke "Thermodynamics" paper at the end of the first semester. There is a resit paper in August for those who qualify.

    Previous Examination Papers can be found via the central University Library site. This requires an Edinburgh University login. Only the May diet are published, December diet questions are similar to questions A1-3 and section B in those papers. From 2019, the exam format is changed so that you need only answer ALL Section A (1-3 Thermodynamics, 4-6 statistical mechanics), ONE question from section B (Thermodynamics) and ONE from section C (Statistical mechanics). The December exam has three short "Section A" questions and one out of two long "Section B" questions.

    Although there will always be some rote-learnable sections, the examination questions will probe whether you understand what you've been taught, not simply whether you can remember it. The purpose of this course is to teach you some physics, not to help you pass the examination. But if you are interested in passing the examination, it is a good idea to practice with some past papers.
    2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
    There will be additional sessions prior to the examination period in which you can ask for feedback on your attempts at previous examination papers. Remember that while a tutorial problem gives you practice at testing you own understanding, an examination answer also requires you to communicate that information to another human being who marks the paper. A very instructive way to check this is to attempt a paper under exam conditions and then get a friend to mark it

    The overall mark is split between Coursework, 20% and Degree Examination, 80%

    Recommended texts:

    (1) Finn, 'Thermal Physics' ; New Version 2017 "Finn's Thermal Physics" by Andrew Rex
    (2) Ackland 'An inverted textbook on Thermodynamics' Questions and Answers

    Lecture Capture

    This year the lectures will be automatically recorded by Media Hopper Replay and available unedited. However, this will not compromise in any way the in-class experience. A decent 1 minute online talk takes about an hour and multiple takes, so don't expect TED talk standards. If you have to miss a lecture, please look through the notes and Prof. Ackland will be happy to discuss anything at the tutorial.

    Overheads

    There is nothing of use in the lecture overheads which is not already contained in the notes. They are subject to random, unpredictable changes and not intended to make any sense whatsoever without the soundtrack. In short: use the notes.
    Lecture 1
    Lecture 2
    Lecture 3
    Lecture 4
    Lecture 5
    Lecture 6
    Lecture 7
    Lecture 8
    Lecture 9
    Lecture 10
    Lecture 11
    Lecture 12
    Lecture 13
    Lecture 14
    Lecture 15
    Lecture 16
    Lecture 17
    Lecture 18
    Lecture 19 >

    Light Relief

    Once long ago I was allowed to write poultry-related questions for the Senior Honours Physics Skills paper. They're now deemed inappropriate, which has long been the case for actual difficult problems.