Objectives.
[1] Understand how a basic mercury thermometer works, and be able to explain why it is constructed as it is.
[2] Be able to describe a method for calibrating an uncalibrated thermometer.
[3] Understand how the flow of a certain amount of heat will affect the temperature of a certain amount of water. Understand this for any temperature of the water, including boiling and freezing water.
[4] Know the units in which heat is measured.
[5] Be familiar with the Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature scales, and know how they are defined. Understand how such definitions might be generalized to an arbitrary temperature scale.
[6] Be able to explain the difference between heat and temperature.
[7] Be able to explain why different objects at the same temperature might feel as if they have different temperatures.
[8] Know how the heat and temperature of an object are affected when the object is subdivided or combined with other objects.
[9] Be able to predict the final temperature of a mixture of hot and cold water when initial temperatures and masses are known.
[10] Understand what is meant by the term "Specific Heat", and know the numerical value of the specific heat of water
[11] Understand what is meant by the term "Heat Capacity", and be able to determine the heat capacity of a given amount of water.
[12] Given the Specific Heat of some substance, be able to determine the Heat Capacity of a chunk of the substance if the mass of the chunk is known.
[13] Given sufficient data, be able to calculate the Heat Capacity and/or Specific Heat of an unknown substance
[14] Given the Heat Capacities and/or Specific Heats of two substances and other supporting data, be able to determine the final temperature when the substances are brought into contact and allowed to equilibrate.
[15] Know what is meant by the term "Phase Change".
[16] Know how the temperature of a substance is affected by the addition of heat when it is undergoing a phase change.
[17] Know where the heat energy added/subtracted to a substance undergoing a phase change is going to/coming from.
[18] Know what is meant by the term "Latent Heat of Fusion of Ice", and know approximately what its numerical value is.
[19] Know what is meant by the term "Latent Heat of Vaporization of Water", and know approximately what its numerical value is.
[20] Understand what a heat engine is, and be able to give an example of a device that behaves like a heat engine.
[21] Understand the concept of Entropy.
[22] Understand the content of the 1st and 2nd Laws of Thermodynamics.
[23] Be able to explain how the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics limits the maximum efficiency of a Heat Engine.
[24] Given sufficient information, be able to calculate the maximum efficiency of a heat engine {that is, the efficiency of an ideal heat engine}.
[25] Understand and be able to describe the basic functioning of refrigerators and heat pumps.
[26] Be able to give a statistical explanation for the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics. Equivalently, be able to give a statistical explanation for the fact that heat naturally flows from high temperatures to low, but not the reverse.
[27] Be able to explain what is meant by the "Heat Death of the Universe". Be able to use this concept to emphasize the difference between "Energy" and "Usable Energy".