1 Temperature & heat
Temperature measures average particle kinetic energy; heat is energy transferred due to a temperature difference. Heat moves by conduction, convection and radiation. The kelvin scale starts at absolute zero (−273.15 °C).
Thermodynamics Intermediate
Heat, energy, entropy and engines — central to mechanical and chemical engineering.
📚 Lessons
2 First law
The first law is conservation of energy for thermal systems: ΔU = Q − W — the change in internal energy equals heat added minus work done by the system. Energy is never created or destroyed, only transformed.
3 Second law & entropy
The second law states that the entropy (disorder) of an isolated system never decreases. Heat flows spontaneously from hot to cold, and no engine can be 100% efficient. This sets the direction of time and limits all real machines.
4 Heat engines & efficiency
A heat engine converts heat into work between hot and cold reservoirs. The ideal Carnot efficiency is 1 − T_cold/T_hot (in kelvin) — the theoretical maximum. Real engines (car, turbine, refrigerator cycles) fall short due to friction and irreversibility.
📝 Tasks
7 tasks across 3 pages — multiple-choice and fill-in (type the answer). Score 70% or higher to earn your certificate.
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