Monday, February 18, 2008

Assignments:

• Answer the recommended conceptual exercises and problems for Chapter 7, and check your understanding by looking at the answers in the back of the textbook.
• Read Chapter 8 and come to class on Wednesday prepared to discuss.
• Let me know your topic ideas for your physics Web Project

Chapter 7 - Second Law of Thermodynamics (you can't even break even)

Zeroth law of thermodynamics - When two objects  have the same temperature, they are in thermal equilibrium.
First law of thermodynamics - Energy cannot be created or destroyed:  The change in internal energy of an object is the heat added to it minus the work done by the object.
Second law of thermodynamics -  When objects of different temperatures are brought into thermal contact, the spontaneous flow of heat is always from higher to lower temperature, never the reverse direction.  The total entropy (disorder) of a system cannot decrease over time.
Third law of thermodynamics - It is impossible to reach absolute zero  K.

Discuss:  Is global warming simply a consequence of the second law of thermodynamics and the industrial revolution?

Examples of heat engines:  automobile, power plant

Demo:  Stirling engine

Exponential growth