Thermodynamics

Chapter Three

Work and heat

By: Hailemariam Mulugeta
 Work, heat and the first law of thermodynamics
➢ Mechanical work is defined as an energy transfer to the system through the change of
an external parameter. Work is the only energy which is transferred to the system through
external macroscopic forces.
Example: consider the mechanical work performed on a gas due to an infinitesimal volume
change (reversible transformation).
dV = Adx
Where A is the active area of the piston. In equilibrium, the external force F is related to
pressure P as.

A F = -PA ,For an infinitesimal process, the change of the position of

the wall by dx results in performing work Δw.
δW = F dx = -P dV, δW = -P Adx .
2 21 October 2021
➢ For a transformation of the system along a finite reversible path in the equation-of-state
space (for a process with finite change of volume), the total work performed is:
ΔW = − P dV.
Note: • Mechanical work is positive when it is performed by the system.
• δW is not an exact differential, i.e., W (P, V ) does not define any state property.
• ΔW depends on the path connecting A (V1) and B (V2).
➢ Cyclic process. During a cyclic process the path in the equation-of-state space is a closed
loop, the work done is along a closed cycle on the equation-of-state surface f(P, V, T ) = 0:

3 21 October 2021
➢ Work is said to be done when a force moves through a distance. If a part of the boundary of
a system undergoes a displacement under the action of a pressure, the work done W is the
product of the force (pressure × area), and the distance it moves in the direction of the force.
Sign convention
• If the work is done by the system on the surroundings, e.g., when a fluid expands
pushing a piston outwards, the work is said to be positive.
Work output of the system = + W
• If the work is done on the system by the surroundings, e.g., when a force is applied to a
rotating handle, or to a piston to compress a fluid, the work is said to be negative.
Work input to system = – W
➢ “Heat is ‘something’ which appears at the boundary when a system changes its state due to
a difference in temperature between the system and its surroundings”.
Sign convention :
• If the heat flows into a system from the surroundings, the quantity is said to be positive
and, conversely, if heat flows from the system to the surroundings it is said to be negative
4 21 October 2021
 Heat
➢ Heat -Energy is transferred in a system in the from of heat when no mechanical work is
exerted, when δW = -P dV vanishes. Other forms of energy (magnetic, electric,
gravitational, ) are also considered to be constant.
➢ Heat transfer is a thermodynamic process representing the transfer of energy in the form
of thermal agitation of the constituent particles. In practice one needs heating elements
➢ Heat capacity. If a system absorbs an amount of heat ΔQ, its temperature rises proportionally
by an amount ΔT : 𝑄 = 𝐶∆𝑇
➢ The amount of energy that raises the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1 K is called
the specific heat of that substance. The symbol for specific heat is C.
➢ The proportionality constant C is the heat capacity of the substance .
• CV - for the heat capacity at constant volume,
• CP -for the heat capacity at constant pressure.
➢ If W = 0, so no work is done by or on the system, then the heat needed to bring about a
temperature change ∆T is
5 21 October 2021
 Heat, Temperature, and Thermal Energy
✓ Thermal energy (E𝑡ℎ ) is an energy of the system due to the motion of its atoms
and molecules. Any system has a thermal energy even if it is isolated and not
interacting with its environment. The units of E𝑡ℎ are Joules.
✓ Heat (Q) is energy transferred between the system and the environment as they
interact. The units of Q are Joules.
✓ Temperature (T )is a state variable that quantifies the “hotness” or “coldness”
of a system.
✓ A temperature difference is required in order for heat to be transferred between
the system and the environment. The units of T are degree Celsius or kelvin.
6 21 October 2021
 The First Law of Thermodynamics
The First Law of Thermodynamics states that : The internal energy of a system
changes from an initial value Ui to a final value Uf due to heat added (Q) and
work done by the system (W) .
DU = Uf – Ui = Q – W
• Q is positive when the system gains heat, and negative when the
system loses heat.
• W is positive when it is done BY the system, and negative when it is done ON the
system

7 21 October 2021
EXAMPLE 1.Calculate the change in the internal energy of the system if 400 J of
energy is absorbed by the system and if 600 J of work is done on the system.
Given Solution

• Q =400 J DU = Uf – Ui = DQ – DW
• W = -600 J DU = 400 J – (-600 J)

Required DU =1000 J

• DU = ?

8 21 October 2021
EXAMPLE 2. The system release 800J of heat energy and 400J of work is done by the
system. Calculate the change in the internal energy of the system?

Given Solution

• Q = -800 J DU = Uf – Ui = DQ – DW
• W = 400 J DU = -800 J – (400 J)

Required DU = -1200 J

• DU = ?

9 21 October 2021
EXAMPLE 3.What is the change in the internal energy of the system if the surrounding gain
300J heat of energy and 500J of work is performed by the surrounding?

Given Solution

• Q =-300 J DU = Uf – Ui = DQ – DW
• W = -500 J DU = -300 J – (-500 J)

Required DU =200 J

• DU = ?

10 21 October 2021
EXAMPLE 4.What is the change in the internal energy of the system if the surrounding
release 500J heat of energy and the system does 800J of work on the surrounding?

Given Solution

• Q =500 J DU = Uf – Ui = DQ – DW
• W =800 J DU = 500 J – (800 J)

Required DU = -300 J

• DU = ?

11 21 October 2021
 Reading Quiz
1.Which quantities appear in the first law of thermodynamics?
A. force, mass, acceleration
Answer: C
B. inertia, torque, angular momentum
Work, heat and thermal
C. work, heat, thermal energy
energy or internal energy
D. work, heat, entropy.
E. enthalpy, entropy, heat
2.What was the original unit for measuring heat?
A. BTU Answer: E
B. Watt Calorie
C. Joule
D. Pascal
E. Calorie

12 21 October 2021
 Cont’d
3.What is the name of an ideal-gas process in which no heat is transferred?
A. Isochoric/volumetric
Answer :E
B. Isentropic Adiabatic
C. Isothermal
D. Isobaric
E. Adiabatic
4.Heat is
A. the amount of thermal energy in an object. Answer :B
The energy that move from
B. the energy that moves from a hotter object to a colder object. hotter object to colder object
C. a fluid-like substance that flows from a hotter object to a colder object.
D. both A and B.
E. both B and C.

13 21 October 2021
5.The thermal behavior of water is characterized by the value of its ?
A. heat density.
Answer :C
B. heat constant. Specific heat
C. specific heat.
D. thermal index.

14 21 October 2021
Example 1.A 50 g hot aluminum disk with 300 ℃ is quenched in well insulated 0.2 Litter
ethyl alcohol with 10 ℃ having density of 790 kg/m3 and the temperature of aluminum
become 120 ℃. The specific heat capacity of aluminum and ethyl alcohol are 900 J/kg k and
2400 J/kg k respectively. Then find,
a) The thermal energy lost by aluminum disk
Assume
b) The thermal energy gain by ethyl alcohol
• 1m3 =1000 L
• 1kg =1000g
c) Mass of ethyl alcohol • ∆℃ = 𝑘
d) the change in temperature of ethyl alcohol

e) the final temperature of ethyl alcohol

15 21 October 2021
 Solution
a) The thermal energy lost by aluminum disk
• Conservation of energy tells us that the heat energy transferred out
of the disk is the heat energy transferred in to the alcohol.

• ∆ TAl =Tf -Ti =300℃ -120℃= -180℃ = -180𝑘

• It is negative because temperature is decreases
• Q=m cp∆T =0.05kg×900J/kg k ×(-180 𝑘)= -8100 J (negative)
b) The thermal energy gain by ethyl alcohol
• Then ethyl alcohol gains 8100 J (positive)
c) Mass of ethyl alcohol
• methyl =𝜌 .V=790 kg/m3 × 2× 10−4 m3 =0.158 kg
d) the change in temperature of ethyl alcohol
𝑄 8100 J
• ∆ Tethyl = = =21.4k=21.4℃
𝑚𝑐𝑝 0.158 kg×2400 J/kg k
16 21 October 2021
17 21 October 2021