Heat and Molecular Physics

Course guarantor:

Petr Jizba

Lecturer:

Filip Petrásek

Tutor:

Petr Červenka, Filip Petrásek, Stanislav Skoupý, Karla Žertová

Supervisor:

Department of Physics

Synopsis:

Heat propagation, calorimetry, the zeroth law of thermodynamics, thermal expansion and expansivity, one-dimensional steady-state heat conduction, heat transfer, energy conservation and thermal insulation, Fouriers law, heat equation, radial part of the Laplace operator, differential forms, Jacobian method, boundary value problem for a homogeneous rod and sphere, first law of thermodynamics, homogeneous chemical system, ideal gas, processes in an ideal gas, second law of thermodynamics, thermal efficiency, Carnot heat engine, Carnots theorem I, absolute temperature, Carnots theorem II, entropy, ideal gas entropy, Gibbs paradox, thermodynamic potentials, Maxwells relations, real gas models, the Joule-Thomson experiment, Maxwell velocity distribution, thermodynamics of non-chemical systems, the third law of thermodynamics.

Requirements:

1. Regular attendance at exercises with a maximum of 2 unexcused absences.

2. Two assessment tests during the semester and one comprehensive remedial assessment test at the beginning of the exam period. Assessment is awarded for at least 4 points out of 8, or 5 points out of 12 after the retake test.

3. The exam includes 2 theoretical questions, with the final grade being a weighted average of the grade from the oral theoretical part and the grade from the assessment tests during the semester.

Syllabus of lectures:

1. Basics of Thermal Phenomena

2. Simple Heat Conduction

3. General Heat Conduction

4. Differential Forms and Jacobian Method

5. Spacetime Heat Conduction

6. First Law of Thermodynamics

7. Second Law of Thermodynamics

8. Entropy

9. Thermodynamic Potentials and Identities

10. Real Gases

11. Statistical Description of Ideal Gas

12. Non-Chemical Systems and Third Law of Thermodynamics

Syllabus of tutorials:

1. Basics of Thermal Phenomena

2. Simple Heat Conduction

3. General Heat Conduction

4. Differential Forms and Jacobian Method

5. Spacetime Heat Conduction

6. First Law of Thermodynamics

7. Second Law of Thermodynamics

8. Entropy

9. Thermodynamic Potentials and Identities

10. Real Gases

11. Statistical Description of Ideal Gas

12. Non-Chemical Systems and Third Law of Thermodynamics

Study Objective:

Knowledge: understanding of basic thermal phenomena and processes occurring in chemical and selected non-chemical thermodynamic systems.

Skills: application of the mathematical and conceptual tools of thermodynamics to specific examples from physics and engineering practice.

Study materials:

Required references:

1. F. Petrásek. Tutorial Guide: Heat and Molecular Physics, 2026.

Recommended references:

2. Z. Maršák, E. Havránková. Sbírka řešených příkladů z fyziky: Termika a molekulová fyzika, ČVUT v Praze, 2000.

3. S. J. Blundell, K. E. Blundell. Concepts of Thermal Physics, Oxford, 2010.

4. W. Greiner, L. Neise, H. Stöcker. Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics, Springer-Verlag, 1997.

5. Y-K. Lim. Problems and Solutions on Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics, World Scientific, 1990.

6. K. Huang. Statistical Physics, Wiley, 1987.

7. F. Reif. Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal Physics, McGraw-Hill, 1965.

Note:

Further information:

MS Teams

Time-table for winter semester 2025/2026:

Time-table is not available yet

Time-table for summer semester 2025/2026:

Time-table is not available yet

The course is a part of the following study plans:

• Fyzikální inženýrství - Počítačová fyzika (PS)
• Aplikované matematicko-stochastické metody (elective course)
• Jaderné inženýrství - Aplikovaná fyzika ionizujícího záření (PS)
• Fyzikální inženýrství - Fyzikální inženýrství materiálů (PS)
• Fyzikální inženýrství - Fyzika plazmatu a termojaderné fúze (PS)
• Fyzikální inženýrství - Inženýrství pevných látek (PS)
• Jaderná a částicová fyzika (compulsory course in the program)
• Jaderné inženýrství - Jaderné reaktory (PS)
• Fyzikální inženýrství - Laserová technika a fotonika (PS)
• Matematické inženýrství - Matematická fyzika (PS)
• Matematické inženýrství - Matematická informatika (elective course)
• Matematické inženýrství - Matematické modelování (PS)
• Kvantové technologie (compulsory course in the program)
• jaderné inženýrství - Radioaktivita v životním prostředí (PS)
• Physical Engineering - Physical Engineering od Materials (PS)