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Section 2.3

Thermodynamics

Temperature and temperature scales — the Cat A thermodynamics scope.

Notes

Thermodynamics (Cat A) — summary notes

Main ideas
  • Temperature is a measure of how hot or cold something is — the average kinetic energy of its particles. Heat is energy that flows from a hotter body to a colder one.
  • Three scales are used: Celsius (°C), Fahrenheit (°F) and Kelvin (K). Kelvin is the absolute scale, starting at absolute zero (−273°C), where particle motion stops.
  • Heat always flows from hot to cold, never the other way on its own.
Key formulas
Celsius to Kelvin
K = °C + 273
Celsius to Fahrenheit
°F = (°C × 9/5) + 32
Solved examples
  1. Convert 27°C to kelvin.

    K = °C + 273 = 27 + 273 = 300 K.

  2. Convert 100°C to Fahrenheit.

    °F = (100 × 9/5) + 32 = 180 + 32 = 212°F — the boiling point of water.

Mind map

Thermodynamics concept map

Thermodynamics

Quiz

Temperature quiz

Temperature (Cat A)

15 of 50Pass 75%
  1. 1. Temperature is a measure of:

  2. 2. The SI unit of temperature is the:

  3. 3. At sea level, water freezes at:

  4. 4. At sea level, water boils at:

  5. 5. On the Fahrenheit scale, water freezes at:

  6. 6. On the Fahrenheit scale, water boils at:

  7. 7. Absolute zero is approximately:

  8. 8. 0 °C expressed in kelvin is:

  9. 9. 100 °C expressed in kelvin is:

  10. 10. To convert °C to K you:

  11. 11. To convert K to °C you:

  12. 12. 25 °C expressed in kelvin is:

  13. 13. The Kelvin scale starts at:

  14. 14. A device used to measure temperature is a:

  15. 15. Between the freezing and boiling of water, the Celsius scale has: