ME103: Thermodynamics « Saylor.org – Free Online Courses Built by Professors

Thermodynamics

Purpose of Course show close

There are many different ways that you can go about solving engineering problems. One of the most important methods is energy analysis. Energy is a physical property that allows work of any kind to be done; without it, there would be no motion, no heat, and no life. You wouldn’t be able to get out of bed in the morning, but it wouldn’t matter, because there would be no sun. Without energy, our world would not exist as it does. Thermodynamics is the study of energy and its transfers though work. It is the link between heat and mechanical exertion. Once you have a solid grasp on thermodynamic concepts, you should be able to understand why certain mechanisms (such as engines and boilers) work the way they do, determine how much work they can put out, and know how to optimize these power systems. A thorough understanding of thermodynamics is crucial to any career that focuses on HVAC systems, car engines, or renewable energy technology. This course will focus on the fundamentals of thermodynamics, including the First and Second Laws, thermodynamic properties, ideal gases, and equations of state. We will also take a brief look at power cycles so that you understand how these basic concepts apply to real-world situations (i.e. how they pertain to a steam power plant or your refrigerator). You should note that this class is problem-heavy. Over the course of the semester, you will be exposed to a number of examples that have been designed to provide you with a visual understanding of the subject matter. The concepts you learn in this course will serve as the basis for more advanced courses—Heat Transfer (ME204) and Thermal-Fluid Systems (ME303)—that will ask you to perform in-depth and working assessments of engineering problems.

Course Information show close

Welcome to ME103. Below, please find some general information on the course and its requirements.

Course Designers: Tuan Dinh and Thi Dang

Primary Resources:

Requirements for Completion: Completion of all readings, assignments, and assessments.

Time Commitment: The materials for this course will take approximately 150 hours to complete.

A version of this course is also available in iTunes U.
Preview the course in your browser or view our entire suite of iTunes U courses.

Learning Outcomes show close

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Identify and use units and notations in thermodynamics.
State and illustrate the first and second laws of thermodynamics.
Identify and explain the concepts of entropy, enthalpy, specific energy, reversibility, and irreversibility.
Apply the first and second laws of thermodynamics to formulate and solve engineering problems for (i) closed systems, (ii) open systems under steady-state and transient conditions, and (iii) power cycles.
Use thermodynamic tables, charts, and equation of state (e.g. the ideal gas law) to obtain appropriate property data to solve thermodynamics problems.

Course Requirements show close

In order to take this course, you must:

√ Have access to a computer.

√ Have continuous broadband Internet access.

√ Have the ability/permission to install plug-ins or software (e.g. Adobe Reader or Flash).

√ Have the ability to download and save files and documents to a computer.

√ Have the ability to open Microsoft files and documents (.doc, .ppt, .xls, etc.).

√ Have competency in the English language.

√ Have read the Saylor Student Handbook.

√ Have completed the following courses: ME001/MA101, ME002/MA102, ME005/PHYS101, and ME101.

2 Properties of Pure Substances
2.1 Intensive and Extensive Properties
2.2 Pure Substances
2.2.1 Phase Changes
2.2.2 P-V-T Charts
2.2.3 Vapor Domes
2.3 Liquids and Vapors
2.3.1 Saturation and Quality
2.3.2 Using the Liquid-Vapor Tables
2.3.3 Compressed Liquids and Superheated Steam
2.4 Equation of state
2.5 Gases
2.5.1 Ideal Gas Law
2.5.2 Compressibility Factors

3 Energy Transfer Through Work, Heat, and Mass
3.1 Energy
3.1.1 What Is Energy?
3.1.2 Kinetic and Potential Energy
3.1.3 Internal Energy
3.1.4 Enthalpy and Specific Heat
3.2 Energy Transfer
3.2.1 Transfer Through Work
3.2.2 Heat Transfer

4 First Law of Thermodynamics
4.1 The First Law for Closed Systems
4.2 The First Law for Open Systems
4.2.1 Conservation of Mass
4.2.2 Energy Flow
4.3 Steady-State, Steady-Flow Processes (SSSF)
4.3.1 Nozzles and Diffusers
4.3.2 Throttles
4.3.3 Pumps, Fans, and Blowers
4.3.4 Turbines and Compressors
4.3.5 Heat Exchangers
4.3.6 Mixing of Streams
4.4 Transient Analysis

5 Second Law of Thermodynamics
5.1 Introduction to Entropy
5.1.1 Explanation of Entropy, on the Microscopic Scale
5.1.2 Viewing Entropy Macroscopically
5.1.3 Entropy Relations
5.2 The Second Law of Thermodynamics
5.2.1 Thermodynamic Cycle and Thermal Efficiency
5.2.2 Carnot Cycle
5.3 Entropy Generation
5.3.1 Clausius Inequality
5.3.2 Isentropic process
5.4 Calculating Entropy
5.4.1 Ideal Gases
5.4.2 Vapors and Saturated Fluids
5.4.3 Solids and Compressed Liquids

6 Introduction to Power Cycles
6.1 Introduction to Power Cycles
6.1.1 Vapor Power Cycles
6.1.2 Rankine Cycle Thermal Efficiency
6.2 Gas Power Cycles
6.2.1 Otto Cycle
6.2.2 Diesel Cycle
6.2.3 Brayton Cycle
6.3 Refrigeration Cycle

7 Final Exam

Expand All Resources Collapse All Resources

Unit 1: Introduction to Thermodynamics

We will begin by taking a look at important thermodynamic concepts and terminology that you will use throughout the course. We will use what are known as systems to define our realms of analysis. A thermodynamic system is any bounded area that we place under observation. Systems come in a number of variations. If, for example, mass is not allowed to enter or exit the region under examination, the system is considered a “closed” system. If mass is allowed to transfer across the boundaries of the area, however, it is an “open” system.

This unit will also define and examine thermodynamic properties and states and review common units, relationships, and conversions that you will need to recognize and perform in this course. For example, how do you define pressure? How can we make conversions between SI and USCS units? You may be familiar with some or all of these; if this is the case, use this section as a refresher.

Unit 1 Time Advisory show close

Unit 1 Learning Outcomes show close

1.1 Thermodynamic Concepts

1.1.1 Systems, Properties, and States

Optional Reading: Queen’s University: Canada: Professor G. Ciccarelli’s Lecture Notes on Applied Thermodynamics: “Lecture 1: Introduction to Thermodynamics”
Link: Queen's Universtiy: Professor G. Ciccarelli’s Lecture Notes on Applied Thermodynamics: “Lecture 1: Introducetion to Thermodynamics” (PDF)

Instructions: Please download the PDF files for Lecture 1 and read pages 1-12. Can the boundary of a system change in size or shape as the system undergoes changes?

Terms of Use: The linked material above has been reposted by the kind permission of G. Ciccarelli, and can be viewed in its original form here. Please note that this material is under copyright and cannot be reproduced in any capacity without explicit permission from the copyright holder.
See a broken link? Please let us know!
Lecture: MIT OpenCourseWare: Professors Nelson and Bawendi’s Thermodynamics and Kinetics video lecture “State of a System, 0th Law, Equation of State”
Link: MIT OpenCourseWare: Professors Nelson and Bawendi’s Thermodynamics and Kinetics video lecture “State of a System, 0th Law, Equation of State” (YouTube)

Also available in:
iTunes U
Adobe Flash or HTML Transcript

Instructions: Please watch this video (46:45 minutes), which will introduce you to the fundamental concepts of thermodynamics.

Terms of Use: Nelson, Keith A. and Moungi Bawendi. 5.60 Thermodynamics & Kinetics, Spring 2008. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT OpenCourseWare). http://ocw.mit.edu (accessed March 11, 2011). License: Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike. The original version can be found here.
See a broken link? Please let us know!
Reading: University of Notre Dame: Professor J. M. Powers’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 1: Introduction to Thermodynamics”
Link: University of Notre Dame: Professor J. M. Powers’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 1: Introduction to Thermodynamics” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read pages 1–15. The reading will provide you with some historical perspective on the field of thermodynamics. Who is recognized as the first thermal engineer and invented the first steam engine? What do you think the most important historical milestones in the study of thermodynamics?

Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 (HTML) license. You can find the original Notre Dame version of this article here (PDF) Please click on “course notes” and download the PDF files for the lecture notes.
See a broken link? Please let us know!

1.1.2 Process and Cycle

Reading: Queen’s University: Canada: Professor G. Ciccarelli’s Lecture Notes on Applied Thermodynamics: “Lecture 1: Introduction to Thermodynamics”
Link: Queen’s University, Canada: Professor G. Ciccarelli’s Lecture Notes on Applied Thermodynamics: “Lecture 1: Introduction to Thermodynamics” (PDF)

Instructions: Please download the PDF files for Lectures 1-2 and read page 13. This reading will introduce you to the concepts of process and cycle in thermodynamics.

Terms of Use: The linked material above has been reposted by the kind permission of G. Ciccarelli, and can be viewed in its original form here. Please note that this material is under copyright and cannot be reproduced in any capacity without explicit permission from the copyright holder.
See a broken link? Please let us know!
Reading: University of Notre Dame: Professor J. M. Powers’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 2: Some Concepts and Definitions”
Link: University of Notre Dame: Professor J. M. Powers’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 1: Introduction to Thermodynamics” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read section 2.4 and browse through the rest of Chapter 2. What is meant by surrounding and universe? What is a static process? How do you define a reversible process?

Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 (HTML) license. You can find the original Notre Dame version of this article here (PDF) Please click on “course notes” and download the PDF files for the lecture notes.
See a broken link? Please let us know!

1.2 Units and Conversions

Web Media: Texas A&M University: Dr. Ann Kenimer’s “Fundamental Concepts: Units”
Link: Texas A&M University: Dr. Ann Kenimer’s “Fundamental Concepts: Units” (PDF)

Instructions: In this subunit, you will learn about units of measurements. A comprehensive and thorough understanding of the units of measurements of the physical quantities and properties commonly encountered in mechanical engineering is essential to the study of thermodynamics. From the link above, click on “4. Fundamental Concepts Units Powerpoint,” Under Subsection C. You will be directed to a PDF version of a PowerPoint presentation by Dr. Ann Kenimer of Texas A&M that covers units and unit conversions. Please read through all of the slides in the presentation. Note that this reading will cover the material you need to know for subunits 1.2.1–1.2.3.

After reading, list three base units and five derived commonly derived properties. What is a bar? Which units are named after famous physicists?

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
See a broken link? Please let us know!
Web Media: MIT: Dr. Craig Counterman’s “Unit Converter”
Link: MIT: Dr. Craig Counterman’s “Unit Converter” (HTML)

Instructions: Use the unit converter to test your ability to convert SI units to USCS units for density, pressure, volume, and energy. What are the SI prefixes for 10^-3, 10⁶, 10¹² ?

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
See a broken link? Please let us know!

1.2.1 SI and USCS Units

Note: This subunit is covered by the web media assigned beneath subunit 1.2. Focus specifically on slides 5, 6, 9, and 10. You will learn about the International System of Units (SI) and the U.S. Customary System of Units (UCSU).

1.2.2 Units of Properties

Note: This subunit is covered by the web media assigned beneath subunit 1.2. Focus specifically on slides 7, 8, and 11. You will learn about the the derived units for pressure, velocity, energy, and so forth.

1.2.3 Unit Conversions

Note: This subunit is covered by the web media assigned beneath subunit 1.2. Focus specifically on slides 12 and 13. You will learn about the conversion between the International System of Units (SI) and the U.S. Customary System of Units (UCSU).

1.3 Unit 1 Assessments

Assessment: University of South Florida's Dr. Carlos A. Smith’s “Thermodynamics: Homework A – Set 1”
Link: University of South Florida: Dr. Carlos A. Smith’s “Thermodynamics: Homework A – Set 1” (PDF)

Instructions: Please attempt all questions in the assessment. You can find the answers here (PDF).

Terms of Use: This resource is used with the kind permission of Dr. Carlos A. Smith. To view the original assessment on the University of South Florida's website click here (HTML).
See a broken link? Please let us know!
Assessment: McGraw Hill: Yunus A. Çengel and Michael A. Boles’ Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach, 4/e: “Multiple Choice Quiz for Chapter 1”
Link: McGraw Hill: Yunus A. Çengel and Michael A. Boles’ Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach, 4/e: “Multiple Choice Quiz for Chapter 1” (HTML)

Instructions: Please click on the link above and answer all 10 questions in the quiz. Select your answer from choices given for each question. Click on “Submit Answers” at the bottom of the webpage when you have answered all the questions. The webpage will tell you whether your answer is correct and what the correct answer is.

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
Submit Materials
Assessment: The Saylor Foundation’s “Unit 1 Assessment”
Link: The Saylor Foundation’s “Unit 1 Assessment” (PDF)

Instructions: Please click on the link above and download the assessment. Work through all problems and write down your answers. Read the instructions for each problem carefully. Once you complete the assessment, compare your answers with the "Guide to Responding” (PDF). This assessment will cover all topics discussed in Unit 1.
See a broken link? Please let us know!

Unit 2: Properties of Pure Substances

The simplest thermodynamic situations involve “pure substances.” Pure substances are single, uncontaminated substances that have not been mixed with any other substances. They are fundamental building blocks (atoms or molecules) arranged in a certain way. Common pure substances include water, molecular nitrogen, graphite, diamond. We also often have a situation in which it is convenient to treat a mixture as a single substance (e.g air in combustion problems, impure water, gasoline). You must understand how to carry out pure substance calculations prior to analyzing mixtures (this latter subject will be addressed in future courses).

Unit 2 Time Advisory show close

Unit 2 Learning Outcomes show close

2.1 Intensive and Extensive Properties

Reading: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 1: Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics”
Link: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 1: Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics” (PDF)

Instructions: Please click on “Study Guide for Chapter 1.” In this reading, you will be introduced to intensive and extensive properties of a system and will learn how to identify whether a property of a system is extensive or intensive. There are some properties that depend on the size of a system, while other properties are independent of the size of the system. Is volume an extensive property or an intensive property?

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
Submit Materials

2.2 Pure Substances

Reading: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 2: Properties of Pure Substances”
Link: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 2: Properties of Pure Substances” (PDF)

Instructions: Please click on “Study Guide for Chapter 2.” Please read pages 2–1 to pages 2–8 only. In this reading, you will be introduced to phase changes and the P-V-T surface of pure substances. What are the phases of a pure substance? Make sure that you understand the definitions of critical state, phases, and triple point.

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
Submit Materials

2.2.1 Phase Changes

Note: This subunit is partially covered by the reading assigned beneath subunit 2.2 (North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 2: Properties of Pure Substances”). Follow the description of the process of heating water from room temperature to superheated vapor on pages 3–6. Trace the transitions between different states of water on Figure 2-11.

Reading: University of Notre Dame: Professor J. M. Powers’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 3: Properties of Pure Substances”
Link: University of Notre Dame: Professor J. M. Powers’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 1: Introduction to Thermodynamics” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read section 3.2 (pages 41–46). The reading will introduce you to phase diagram of a pure substance.

Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 (HTML) license. You can find the original Notre Dame version of this article here (PDF). Please click on “course notes” and download the PDF files for the lecture notes.
See a broken link? Please let us know!

2.2.2 P-V-T Charts

Note: This subunit is covered by the reading assigned beneath subunit 2.2 (North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 2: Properties of Pure Substances”). Pay attention to the P-V-T charts on page 2. The P-v-T chart is the most convenient way to represent the properties of a pure substance.

2.2.3 Vapor Domes

Note: This subunit is covered by the reading assigned beneath subunit 2.2 (North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 2: Properties of Pure Substances”). Study the vapor domes sketeched on pages 7–11. Find out what is the critical temperature for water.

2.3 Liquids and Vapors

Reading: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 2: Properties of Pure Substances”
Link: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 2: Properties of Pure Substances” (PDF)

Instructions: Please click on “Study Guide for Chapter 2.” Please read pages 2–8 to pages 2–33. In this reading, you will learn about the relationships governing the properties of pure substances (e.g. water). You will also learn how to use the liquid-vapor tables to calculate properties of a pure substance as functions of pressure, temperature, and specific volume. Note that this reading will cover the material you need to know for subunits 2.3.1–2.3.3.

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
See a broken link? Please let us know!
Reading: Dr. Israel Urieli’s Lecture Notes on Engineering Thermodynamics – A Graphical Approach: “Chapter 2: Pure Substances”
Link: Dr. Israel Urieli’s Lecture Notes on Engineering Thermodynamics – A Graphical Approach: “Chapter 2: Pure Substances” (PDF)

Instructions: Please click on the link to Chapter 2a: “Phase Change, Property Tables, and Diagrams” and read the entire document. What is a critical point? What are the most common methods to show properties of pure substances?

Terms of Use: The linked material above has been reposted by the kind permission of Israel Urieli, and can be viewed in its original form here. Please note that this material is under copyright and cannot be reproduced in any capacity without explicit permission from the copyright holder.
See a broken link? Please let us know!
Web Media: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): NIST Chemistry Webbook’s “Themophysical Properties of Fluid Systems”
Link: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): NIST Chemistry Webbook’s “Themophysical Properties of Fluid Systems” (HTML)

Instructions: Use the website to look up properties for water and other fluids. Follow the instructions on the website to generate saturation properties for water.

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
See a broken link? Please let us know!

2.3.1 Saturation and Quality

Note: This subunit is covered by the reading assigned beneath subunit 2.3 (North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 2: Properties of Pure Substances”). Focus on pages 15-17. What is quality of steam? How does the quality of a vapor-water mixture change as we increase its pressure? What is a saturated state? What are saturation temperature and saturation pressure?

2.3.2 Using the Liquid-Vapor Tables

Note: This subunit is covered by the reading assigned beneath subunit 2.3 (North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 2: Properties of Pure Substances”). Study the saturated water tables on pages 12-14 carefully. What is the internal energy of saturated liquid water at 0.1 MPa?

2.3.3 Compressed Liquids and Superheated Steam

Note: This subunit is covered by the reading assigned beneath subunit 2.3 (North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 2: Properties of Pure Substances”). Study the saturated water tables on pages 12-14 carefully. Review tables A-6 and A-7 carefully.

Web Media: YouTube: EdwardsVacuum’s “Water Phase Change – Water to ice”
Link: YouTube: EdwardsVacuum’s “Water Phase Change – Water to ice” (YouTube)

Instructions: Watch the video (1.42 min); can you explain how water changes to ice when pressure is reduced?

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
See a broken link? Please let us know!

2.4 Equation of state

Reading: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 2: Properties of Pure Substances”
Link: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 2: Properties of Pure Substances” (PDF)

Instructions: Please click on “Study Guide for Chapter 2.” Please read page 2-34. In this reading, you will learn about equation of state.

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
See a broken link? Please let us know!
Reading: University of Notre Dame: Professor J. M. Powers’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 3: Properties of Pure Substances”
Link: University of Notre Dame: Professor J. M. Powers’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 1: Introduction to Thermodynamics” (PDF)

Instructions: Please browse through section 3.4. The reading will provide you with some historical background on the equations of states for ideal gases and gas mixtures. Pay attention to Figures 3.13 and 3.14.

Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 (HTML) license. You can find the original Notre Dame version of this article here (PDF). Please click on “course notes” and download the PDF files for the lecture notes.
See a broken link? Please let us know!

2.5 Gases

2.5.1 Ideal Gas Law

Reading: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 2: Properties of Pure Substances”
Link: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 2: Properties of Pure Substances” (PDF)

Instructions: Please click on “Study Guide for Chapter 2.” Please read pages 2–38 to pages 2–45. This reading introduces the compressibility factors, which are used to measure how an actual gas deviates from ideal gas law. Can you provide some examples of non-ideal gas law?

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
See a broken link? Please let us know!
Lecture: MIT OpenCourseWare's Professor Water Levin’s “Ideal Gas Law”
Link: MIT OpenCourseWare's Professor Water Levin’s “Ideal Gas Law” (YouTube)

Also available in:
iTunes U (#34)
Adobe Flash and HTML Transcript

Instructions: Please watch this video (52:41 minutes), which will introduce you to ideal gas laws from the perspective of classical mechanics and kinetic theory of gases. What’s Boyle’s law? Which are the key assumptions for deriving the ideal gas law from classical mechanics?

Terms of Use: Walter Lewin, 8.01, Fall 1999. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT OpenCourseWare), http://ocw.mit.edu (Accessed June 14, 2011). License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0. The original version can be found here.
See a broken link? Please let us know!

2.5.2 Compressibility Factors

Reading: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 2: Properties of Pure Substances”
Link: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 2: Properties of Pure Substances” (PDF)

Instructions: Please click on “Study Guide for Chapter 2.” Please read pages 2–38 to pages 2–45. This reading introduces the compressibility factors, which are used to measure how an actual gas deviates from ideal gas law.

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
See a broken link? Please let us know!
Reading: University of Notre Dame: Professor J. M. Powers’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 3: Properties of Pure Substances”
Link: University of Notre Dame: Professor J. M. Powers’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 1: Introduction to Thermodynamics” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read pages 57-59. Calculate the critical volume, temperature and pressure for a van der Waals gas. Get familiar with the Redlich-Kwong equation of state, which is widely used for engineering calculation. Pay attention to Figure 3.20. Make sure that you are able to define and calculate compressibility factor and reduced properties. Use the compressibility factor to explain why all gases approach ideal gas at low pressure.

Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 (HTML) license. You can find the original Notre Dame version of this article here (PDF). Please click on “course notes” and download the PDF files for the lecture notes.
See a broken link? Please let us know!
Assessment: Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach, 4/e by Yunus A. Çengel, University of Nevada, Reno, and Michael A. Boles, North Carolina State University: Multiple Choice Quiz for Chapter 2
Link: Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach, 4/e by Yunus A. Çengel, University of Nevada, Reno, and Michael A. Boles, North Carolina State University: Multiple Choice Quiz for Chapter 2 (HTML)

Instructions: Please click on the link above and answer all 10 questions in the quiz. Select your answer from choices given for each question. Click on “Submit Answers” at the bottom of the webpage when you have answered all the questions. The webpage will tell you whether your answer is correct and what the correct answer is.

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
Submit Materials
Assessment: The Saylor Foundation’s “Unit 2 Assessment”
Link: The Saylor Foundation’s “Unit 2 Assessment” (PDF)

Instructions: Please click on the link above and download the assessment. Work through all problems and write down your answers. Read the instructions for each problem carefully. Once you complete the assessment, compare your answers with the "Guide To Responding" document (PDF). This assessment will cover all topics discussed in Unit 2.
See a broken link? Please let us know!

Unit 3: Energy Transfer Through Work, Heat, and Mass

For our purposes, energy is a substance that has the potential to change the state of a system, depending on its motion into and out of the defined area of analysis. In this unit, we will learn to quantify and observe energy as it affects the studied area.

Energy is transferred into and around a system by work transfer and heat transfer. Thermodynamics studies the transfer of work and heat in and out of systems and how it affects the properties of the systems.

Unit 3 Time Advisory show close

Unit 3 Learning Outcomes show close

3.1 Energy

Web Media: University of Oklahoma: Multimedia Engineering Thermodynamics, “Energy, Specific Heat, and Enthalpy: Theory”
Link: University of Oklahoma: Multimedia Engineering Thermodynamics, “Energy, Specific Heat, and Enthalpy: Theory” (HTML)

Instructions: Please read the entire webpage, which provides an overview of the concepts of energy, enthalpy, and specific heat. Click on “Simulation” (Shockwave) on the top of the web page to study the simulation of a hand slapping a face. This reading covers subunits 3.1.1-3.1.4.

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
See a broken link? Please let us know!
Web Media: YouTube: moeisa867’s “Energy Movie.wmv”
Link: YouTube: moeisa867’s “Energy Movie.wmv” (YouTube)

Instructions: Please watch the video, which discusses different types of energy.

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
See a broken link? Please let us know!

3.1.1 What Is Energy?

3.1.2 Kinetic and Potential Energy

3.1.3 Internal Energy

Web Media: KhanAcademy’s “First Law of Thermodynamics/ Internal Energy”
Link: KhanAcademy’s “First Law of Thermodynamics/ Internal Energy” (YouTube)

Instructions: Please watch the video, which discusses internal energy and first law of thermodynamics.

Terms of Use: The video above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 (HTML) license. You can find the original KhanAcademy version of this video here (Youtube).
See a broken link? Please let us know!
Web Media: KhanAcademy’s “More on Internal Energy”
Link: KhanAcademy’s “More on Internal Energy” (YouTube)

Instructions: Please what the video, which discusses more on internal energy. Which modes of energy are stored in a system?

Terms of Use: The video above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 (HTML) license. You can find the original KhanAcademy version of this video here (HTML).
See a broken link? Please let us know!

3.1.4 Enthalpy and Specific Heat

3.2 Energy Transfer

3.2.1 Transfer Through Work

Reading: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 3: Energy Transfer by Heat, Work, and Mass”
Link: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 3: Energy Transer by Heat, Work and Mass” (PDF)

Instructions: Please click on “Study Guide for Chapter 3.” Please read pages 3–10 to pages 3–26. In this reading, you will learn about energy transfer through work. In mechanics, work is defined as a force acting on a moving body. Imagine, for example, you are trying to move your desk across the room. You will probably find it difficult to push the desk across the floor, and will likely be tired when you are finished. However, if you only pulled the desk out from the wall a few inches—say to slip a cord behind it—you would be much less exhausted when finished. The first example requires more “work” than the second. In this unit, you will also learn how to calculate work for several typical processes, including constant volume, constant pressure, constant temperature, and polytropic processes.

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
Submit Materials
Reading: University of Notre Dame: Professor J. M. Powers’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 4: Work and Heat”
Link: University of Notre Dame: Professor J. M. Powers’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 1: Introduction to Thermodynamics” (PDF)

Instructions: Please read section 4.2 “Work.” Go through example 4.5 on page 83 carefully. What is the work associated with expansion or compression of a fluid?

Terms of Use: The article above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 (HTML) license. You can find the original Notre Dame version of this article here (PDF). Please click on “course notes” and download the PDF files for the lecture notes.
See a broken link? Please let us know!

3.2.2 Heat Transfer

Reading: Queen’s University: Canada: Professor G. Ciccarelli’s Lecture Notes on Applied Thermodynamics: “Lectures 3-5: Work, Energy and Heat”
Link: Queen’s University: Canada: Professor G. Ciccarelli’s Lecture Notes on Applied Thermodynamics: “Lectures 3-5: Work, Energy and Heat” (PDF)

Instructions: Please download the PDF file for Lecture 3-5 and read pages 29-30. This reading will introduce you to basic concepts of heat transfer. Which characteristics are common between heat and work?

Terms of Use: The linked material above has been reposted by the kind permission of G. Ciccarelli, and can be viewed in its original form here. Please note that this material is under copyright and cannot be reproduced in any capacity without explicit permission from the copyright holder.
See a broken link? Please let us know!
Reading: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 3: Energy Transfer by Heat, Work, and Mass”
Link: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 3: Energy Transer by Heat, Work and Mass” (PDF)

Instructions: Please click on “Study Guide for Chapter 3.” Please read pages 3–2 to pages 3–10. In this reading, you will learn about the three basic modes of heat transfer: convection, conduction, and radiation. Which heat transfer mode is the most efficient? Identify heat transfer modes involved in boiling water on a stove. Which property of a system changes when heat is transferred at constant pressure?

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
See a broken link? Please let us know!
Assessment: Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach, 4/e by Yunus A. Çengel, University of Nevada, Reno, and Michael A. Boles, North Carolina State University: Multiple Choice Quiz for Chapter 3
Link: Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach, 4/e by Yunus A. Çengel, University of Nevada, Reno, and Michael A. Boles, North Carolina State University: Multiple Choice Quiz for Chapter 3 (HTML)

Instructions: Please click on the link above and answer all 10 questions in the quiz. Select your answer from the choices given for each question. Click on “Submit Answers” at the bottom of the webpage when you have answered all questions. The webpage will tell you whether your answer is correct and what the correct answer is.

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
Submit Materials
Assessment: The Saylor Foundation’s “Unit 3 Assessment”
Link: The Saylor Foundation’s “Unit 3 Assessment” (PDF)

Instructions: Please click on the link above and download the assessment. Work through all problems and write down your answers. Read the instructions for each problem carefully. Once you complete the assessment, compare your answers with the "Guide To Responding" document (PDF). This assessment will cover topics discussed in Unit 3.
See a broken link? Please let us know!

Unit 4: First Law of Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics operates according to two main laws. In this unit, we will take an in-depth look at the first of these, which states that energy is conserved. In other words, energy can be altered and transformed, but it can never be created or destroyed. For example, an apple contains a certain amount of potential energy. If you eat the apple, you digest it and, after a series of processes, convert the apple’s potential energy into the kinetic energy that powers you when you walk around. The apple’s potential energy was not lost; it was merely changed into another form.

The first law sets an upper limit on the interconversion of different forms of energy and work. It is often paraphrased as “You can’t win;” that is, you “can’t get something for nothing.” Understanding this concept is as fundamental to science and engineering work as balancing an account is to finance.

Unit 4 Time Advisory show close

Unit 4 Learning Outcomes show close

4.1 The First Law for Closed Systems

Reading: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles' Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 4: The First Law of Thermodynamics”
Link: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 4: The First Law of Thermodynamics” (PDF)

Instructions: Please click on “Study Guide for Chapter 4.” Please read pages 4–1 to pages 4–19. In this reading, you will learn about the first law of thermodynamics for closed systems. Go through Examples 4.2 and 4.3 carefully. How do you express the first law of thermodynamics using an equation?

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
Submit Materials
Reading: Ohio State University: Israel Urieli’s Engineering Thermodynamics - A Graphical Approach: “Chapter 3: The First Law of Thermodynamics for Closed Systems”
Link: Ohio State University: Israel Urieli’s Engineering Thermodynamics - A Graphical Approach: “Chapter 3a: The Energy Equation for Closed Systems” (PDF), “Chapter 3b: Ideal Stirling Cycle Machines (Engines / Coolers)” (PDF), “Chapter 3c: The Air-Standard Diesel Cycle (Compression-Ignition) Engine” (PDF), and “Chapter 3d: The Air-Standard Otto Cycle (Spark-Ignition) Engine” (PDF)

Instructions: Read these articles. Links to examples at the end of each document illustrate the concepts involved for a few thermodynamic power cycles. Closed systems do not allow any mass transfer into or out of them, while open systems do. In a closed system (imagine, for example, the gas trapped inside a piston chamber), the volume can change, but the mass cannot.

Terms of Use: These articles are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. They are attributed to Israel Urieli, and the original versions can be found here.
See a broken link? Please let us know!
Lecture: IIT Kharagpur Lecture Series on Applied Thermodynamics: Professor P.K.Das’ “The first law of thermodynamics (Closed Systems)”
Link: IIT Kharagpur Lecture Series on Applied Thermodynamics: Professor P.K.Das’ The first law of thermodynamics (Closed Systems)” (YouTube)

Instructions: Please watch this video (54:08 minutes), which will introduce you to the applications of the fist law of thermodynamics to closed systems.

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
See a broken link? Please let us know!

4.2 The First Law for Open Systems

Lecture: IIT Kharagpur Lecture Series on Applied Thermodynamics: Professor P.K.Das’ “The first law of thermodynamics (Open Systems)”
Link: IIT Kharagpur Lecture Series on Applied Thermodynamics: Professor P.K.Das’ “The first law of thermodynamics (Open Systems)” (YouTube)

Instructions: Please watch this video (50:46 minutes), which will introduce you to the application of the first law of thermodynamics to open systems. For open systems, mass, heat and work are allowed to cross the system boundary. This lecture covers subunits 4.2.1-4.2.2.

How would you state the first law for open systems in a sentence?

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
See a broken link? Please let us know!

4.2.1 Conservation of Mass

Reading: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles' Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 4: The First Law of Thermodynamics”
Link: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 4: The First Law of Thermodynamics” (PDF)

Instructions: Please click on “Study Guide for Chapter 4.” Please read pages 4–20 to pages 4–21. You will be introduced to the concept of control volume and the principle of conservation of mass. You will also learn how to apply the principle of mass conservation to general open systems and to specific cases, such as steady-state, steady-flow of incompressible fluid.

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
See a broken link? Please let us know!

4.2.2 Energy Flow

Reading: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles' Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 4: The First Law of Thermodynamics”
Link: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 4: The First Law of Thermodynamics” (PDF)

Instructions: Please click on “Study Guide for Chapter 4.” Please read pages 4–21 to pages 4–23. In this reading, you will learn how to calculate the energy flowing into and out of a control volume.

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
See a broken link? Please let us know!

4.3 Steady-State, Steady-Flow Processes (SSSF)

Reading: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles' Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 4: The First Law of Thermodynamics”
Link: North Carolina State University: Professor Boles’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics: “Chapter 4: The First Law of Thermodynamics” (PDF)

Instructions: Please click on “Study Guide for Chapter 4.” Please read pages 4–23 to pages 4–58. In this reading, you will learn how to apply the first law of thermodynamics to study steady-state, steady-flow (SSSF) processes. You will also learn to derive mass and energy conservation equations for several basic SSSF processes, including nozzles, diffusers, throttles, pumps, fans, blowers, turbines, compressors, heat exchangers, and mixing chambers. Make sure that you understand how to use the control volume technique to analyze a variable flow process. This reading covers subunits 4.3.1-4.3.6.

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.
See a broken link? Please let us know!

4.3.1 Nozzles and Diffusers