Essays on Thermodynamics

I hereby certify that this material, which I now submit for assessment as a continuous assessment project in Heat and Mass Transfer on the course 4th year in BEng (Hons) Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, is entirely my own work and has not been submitted in whole or in part for assessment for any academic purpose other than in fulfilment for that stated above.

Abstract

Energy is a depleting resource, making it crucial for people to be knowledgeable in implementing conservation measures at the domestic dwelling level. Scientific advances had made effective energy conservation technology increasingly more accessible due to innovative ...

Introduction

I would like to show in this discussion that Maxwell’s Demon does not violate the second law of thermodynamic but violates the first law (Angus, Armstrong, and Reuck).This can be shown by demonstrating that Maxwell’s Demon Process (MDP) can be turned to a step process which is a reversible cycle. According to the Maxwell’s Demon Process, An ideal gas is contained in a very tough or rigid walled container is divided into two halves using a rigid partition with a hole or a trap door on it. The vessel and the trap door should be ...

Drugs can have many differing affects on people, whether their consumption leads to a positive or adverse response. All of this depends on the levels of enzymes in the body and how the variations of expression lead to these possible outcomes. The major theme of the two sources on this topic relate to the specific enzyme, CYP3A. CYP3A is a subfamily of cytochrome P450 enzymes, which serve to catalyze the addition of oxygen into molecules. Their ultimate role serves two spectrums: to convert foreign substances into less toxic products that can be eliminated from the body, or to convert ...

1. The dogmas are laws and axioms that define a science and all the studies inside that science must follow. It is difficult for an investigator to challenge or dispute a law of axiom of natural science as biology, chemistry or physics; because the current scientific community follows the current dogmas of the natural sciences. In the best of cases, tens of years after the discovery or laws challenging other scientist and investigators must support the idea after the scientific community accept a change in the current dogmas.

Currently, the central dogmas of the natural sciences are:

a. All the pluricellular organisms are mechanical. The animals are considered ...

Introduction

In the adsorption-membrane hybrid system for ethanol steam reforming: Thermodynamics analysis by Dang, Amornchai, Yaneeporn, and Suttichai, (2011, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy), the authors seek to explain how an adsorption-membrane hybrid system, which uses a carbon (IV) oxide as an adsorbent can be used to eliminate unwanted carbon (IV) oxide in the hydrogen separation process. The authors aimed at improving the ethanol steam reforming performance through comparison of thermodynamic analysis that comprised of adsorptive, as well as membrane reactor. Then the authors were able to find that membrane separation process for the hydrogen removal had a higher impact ...

Abstract

This essay briefly describes the meanings of the first law and the second law of thermodynamics. Thermodynamics, as the name illustrates, is the field of science where the dynamics of quantities including but not limited to heat and temperature and their relationship with energy, work, entropy etc are dealt with. The first law of thermodynamics is a version of the principle of conservation of energy. It establishes a theoretical limit on how much work can be output when a certain amount of energy is available and vice versa. The second law of thermodynamics is a bit more subtle and ...

Which is a better choice at the grocery store: paper bag? Plastic bag? Or tissue bag? Explain your answer.The best choice at the grocery store is to bring a used bag. Paper bags, plastic bags, and tissue bags all have individual issues associated with their use. Paper bags come from a renewable source, and are biodegradable. Despite this, they require more energy to make and are less likely to be reused. Plastic bags are not biodegradable but consume less energy to be made than paper or tissue bags. Tissue bags are the highest energy consumptive option, but are more ...

Introduction

A pressure cooker is a hermetically sealed pot that utilizes the thermodynamic principles of steam pressure to cook foods faster than conventional cookers, and use energy more efficiently. Though pressure cookers have existed for many years, they have lately gained considerable popularity as they are considered to be among the beast means for healthy cooking in the market. Moreover, pressure cookers are very simple to use, and the resulting appearance and flavor of foods cooked in them make it difficult to believe how fast the cooking process is actually completed. This paper will focus on the thermodynamic principles under ...

Introduction

At times, industries require the temperatures to be kept below the ambient for some processes to be effective. To do so, they must design ways to eliminate the excess heat generated by machines and introduce an artificial room temperature lower than the ambient. They must effectively eliminate temperatures above the ambient. A refrigerator is thus required in these operations. This refers to a device that can maintain the temperature below the ambient. The primary objective of a refrigeration process is to lower the temperature through heat removal. Since its invention, refrigeration has seen used in many industrial and household ...

Introduction

An invention takes place due to the need of some technological growth in a society and its development is based upon factors like inventions, property right, demand of the technology and encouragement. The introduction of steam engine and locomotive had deep positive and negative effects on European communities; it brought positive and negative impacts creating huge turn points in history.

Steam Engine Locomotive

The Steam engine locomotives used to run on the basis of steam engine. The steam trains were powered by those steam engines which consisted of system of cylinders compressing the superheated steam in order to pressurize it. After the ...

Thermal conductivity is defined as a material’s property to conduct heat. Heat transfer across materials occurs in materials that have lower thermal conductivity and transfers faster in materials with high conductivity. It is important to determine the thermal conductivity of materials since different materials are used for different applications. For instance, materials with high conductivity are more efficient when they are used as heat sinks since they can conduct heat away faster. Those with lower thermal conductivity are often used as insulators (Callister 78). The classical transfer of energy happens through conduction, radiation, convection or combination of all ...

Introduction

The fundamental process of thermal power plants is based on the conversion of thermal energy into mechanical energy and, subsequently, into electric power, using steam as the working fluid. According to the U.S. Energy Information System, over 67% of the electrical energy in the United States is generated through thermoelectric power plants, which use the combustion of fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal and petroleum to generate the steam necessary for the process; moreover, thermoelectric power generation accounts for an approximate 80% of all the power generation worldwide. Thus, the electricity consumed in most homes and industries is ...

Ted Talk as an organization is a platform to share ideas with a key focus on technology, entertainment and design, on a myriad of topics from business, science and global issues. Dan Cobley formerly of Google shared his presentation in Ted Talk with his topic being “What physics taught me about marketing”. After listening to Dan Cobley’s Ted Talk the first thing that is evidenced is that any and everything can have a connection, all we need is an introspective review, since from a general perspective marketing and physics have nothing in common. The principles of marketing and ...

Introduction

Substances vary from one another in the amount of heat needed to produce a rise in temperature in a given quantity of gas. The quantity of heat needed to change the temperature of a system is proportional to the mass of that system as well as the change of temperature. This is expressed as where Q is the amount of heat required, m is the mass of the system, c is the specific heat, and is a change in temperature. The values of specific heat depend on some extend of temperature. In small temperatures, the specific heat is considered ...

Thermodynamics is widely applicable to our daily experiences especially with does involving heat and work. An example of a phenomenon that we encountered in real life is when ice is added to a glass of warm beverage like soda. In this case, the first and second law of thermodynamics are applied. The first law states that energy is conserved. Therefore, energy is neither created nor destroyed. To illustrate this example, let us consider the example previously mentioned. If the ice stays on the glass of warm soda, it will melt after some time. As the ice melts, the temperature ...

Thermodynamics is a scientific fundamental for oil and gas operations. The oil and gas engineering includes complicated processes that require numerous calculations, based on empirically derived equations of state. The equations of state interconnect the properties of the system, yet physics is still not studied and poorly described in academic sources. For the moment, the application of empirical equations proves valid only for the limited number of processes with simple molecules. Yet, when physics is discovered and confirmed, the scientific potential of the equations of state can be extended to characterize process. The new political conditions and increased market ...

1. Thermodynamics Laws. The first law of thermodynamics (the conservation energy law for heat processes) has several mutually equivalent formulations. For example, the amount of heat conducted in a system is spent to change its internal energy and to the work of the system over external bodies. In particular, if the process is isothermal, then all the heat obtained from the gas from the heater is spent for the work. From the practical point of view, the first law states: no first-kind eternal engine (i.e., an engine producing energy from nothing) is possible. The second law of thermodynamics (the ...

Lab Report: Measuring Specific Het of Mozzarella Cheese

In this Lab, the specific heat of mozzarella cheese was measured to be 2.46 (J/g °C) as a function of its temperature. The experiment was performed at 60 Celcius degree, and the specific heat was determined at the various temperatures. The measure was repeated fourth times in order to obtain the statistical error associated and the error was found as +/- 1.50

Introduction

The Specific heat is defined as the amount of energy required to raise in calories to produce a temperature change of 1C per gram of substance (J/g °C). Calorimetry is the measurement of heat energy changes. Calorimeter ...

Mechanical engineering is a field science which is concerned with the design and analysis of structures as well as the development of devices, machines and mechanical systems. The field of mechanical engineering uses the principles of engineering, material science, thermodynamics and physics in order to design and analyse structures and machines. Mechanical engineering overlaps with the other engineering fields such as chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering and many others. The core concepts included in the field of mechanical engineering includes solid mechanics, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. Other principles included in the field are computer-aided design, nanotechnology ...

Introduction

Air Conditioning is perhaps one of the most wonderful scientific inventions that provided relief to the people living in a hot climate. What started as a device for cooling homes was later extended to vehicles that have a closed structure. For a layman, it appears that an air conditioner cools the air. However, scientifically speaking, the air conditioner provides cooling by transferring heat from the air inside the thermally insulated place to the air present outdoor by the medium of “refrigerant”. The phenomenon of heat transfer involves three physical processes: evaporation, compression, and condensation (“How Does an Air Conditioner Work?”). Firstly, ...

The journal article was written to provide an overview of physical and chemical processes affecting changes in coral reef ecosystem. These changes are influenced by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emission (Hoegh-Guldberg, Mumby and Hooten 1737) that triggers physical processes involving laws of thermodynamics. The journal article also shows how the basic principle and theory of thermodynamics occur at global scale over a long period of time. Consequently, the physical processes influence the chemical processes that eventually lead to further changes in ocean ecosystem. The article introduces reader to the existing phenomena of warming and acidifying of the seas (Hoegh-Guldberg, Mumby ...

There are various development processes that a child goes through as he grows up. Through this development process, the children develop a form of communication as well as a language that they can best communicate in. this essay looks at various aspects of child development, and it is expected to shed more light on the development issues.

1. According to Plowden Report (1967, p. 2), language is the media through which people or other living beings use to relay information from one point to another. It is a way through which people pass on their ideas to others in a manner which is acceptable ...

Abstract

This paper discusses and examines thermodynamics concepts and systems, particularly air conditioners. The principles upon which these systems are built, namely the first and the second thermodynamics laws are analyzed. Air conditioner performance and efficiency is also examined under the two laws. The second law of thermodynamics helps in determining the effectiveness of thermodynamics-based systems and is used in this paper to determine the efficiency of air conditioners. This paper finally makes recommendations based on calculations that determine the levels of efficiency of air conditioners.

Introduction

Air Conditioning, which involves the processes of heating and cooling, is an essential part ...

Thermodynamic equilibrium has a significant role to play in the reaction networks related to systems biology, chemistry, and earth science systems. Despite the wide significance, the general reaction properties of thermodynamics are rarely understood, leading to lots of misconceptions about the data. The connection between thermodynamics and network theory has been presented for several decades. This journal article attempts to bridge the gap presented by early researchers in linking thermodynamics and network theory. This study by Fischer, Kleidon and Dittrich is meant to generate the artificial reaction networks in investigating their non-equilibrium steady state of the various boundary fluxes. The ...

Introduction

Most advancement in sciences and technology would not be possible without the use and conversion of energy from one form to another. Thus, thermodynamic principles are considered fundamental laws of energy and relevant to the development of the society at large. This study considers thermodynamics as it concerns different forms of energy, their conversion, and usage.

Laws of Thermodynamics

The laws of thermodynamics emphasize on particular phenomena that describe the relation of energy with matter (Kanoglu, Cengel, & Dincer, 2012). Thermodynamics laws define the amount of physical parameters such as temperature, entropy and energy that characterize a thermodynamic system. These laws also refer the ...

Introduction

Building simulation methods should focus on the effect that occurs between convective heat repulsion between external air circulation and the given wall surfaces. This study will take a closer look on the effects of heat transfer on a brick surface. A tetrahedral mesh will be used to scertain for the effects that are caused on the walls. A brick wall is known for its thermal characteristic of absorbing heat. Therefore, this thermal property will also be studied in this study. Most authors have attributed this norm to behavior of the different correlations that are used to estimate the exact value of ...

Introduction

The object of the paper is to analyze the above relationship over a range of pressures extending above and below atmospheric pressure. Data were obtained for the pressure and temperature of a saturated steam-water mixture in equilibrium over a wide range of pressures and temperatures. The “raw” experimental data are given at the end of this document and the apparatus used are described below.

The object of this exercise is to:

a) Use the raw data to produce a table of absolute pressure .v. absolute (thermodynamic) saturation temperature over the whole range of the data provided. b) Compare this data to equivalent data taken from steam tables. c) Use ...

According to White Hayden, historical accounts are connected to inherent and connectivity platforms. In his assertions, history and fiction ought to be taken as genres of a distinct basis. He argues on the plausibility of analyzing historical accounts as either fiction or science. Unlike science that is subject to interpretation and references, historical events do not entail facts that have been agreed upon and accepted to be inducted. Historical events focus on chronologies and past fallacies which find a recognition scope, as opposed to other submerged past occurrences. In this case, Arcadia is well established along White Hayden’s provisions. ...

This paper entails that water has an extraordinarily large precise heat and large heats of fusion and vaporization. This is the reason as to why the weather and ecosystem depend upon water in all three states, i.e. gas, liquid and solid form. In addition, it shows the reason as to how the world would be like if water thermodynamic properties were like other materials. This will enable us to be aware of the significance of water thermodynamic properties in the world as a whole. It is an approach that will enable us be aware of how the world would be ...

Abstract

The fugacity is a term that has Latin origins, referring to pace and speed. Early work somewhere in the 20th century, on fugacity, demonstrated that chemical equilibrium is established by the free energies of reacting material. Since then, various approaches and concepts on fugacity have been provided. The gas fugacity of noble gasses has been studied, and models have been proposed for calculating the solubility of noble gasses. The development of various models has considered pressure effects, differential equilibrium between components and temperature changes. The paper discusses the evolution of various multimedia fugacity models and the fugacity of pure ...

Other Details

Introduction Psychodynamics is an approach to Psychology that systematically analyzes human behavior and studies the forces that drive behavior (WebMD, 2006). Therapists attempt to understand the personality of patients and help them deal with their problems. The Psychodynamic model is one of the first models to be used for analysis of personality. Psychoanalytical approach was first developed by Sigmund Freud (1856–1939). This approach to treatment is non intensive and includes no more than three to five sessions a week. It is based on the principle that an individual shows abnormal behavior when he is engaged in a conflict with ...

People have always aspired to harness and manipulate the surrounding world. Efforts to subdue and to change the nature were always connected with the invention of different types of mechanical and artificial devices that help to override the environment. One of the most important part of the surroundings for people is energy. Attempts to conquer the energy have started before the industrial revolution. People used power of sun, wind, water and animals to do their jobs. Then there was machines that were able to use the power of steam. Scientists and engineers such as Thomas Newcomen and James Watt ...

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the report of the experiment carried out on the general concepts of thermal radiation. The experiment is made up of various small experiments which were carried out one after the other. The inverse square law of radiation was investigated using the Stefan-Boltzmann lamp. The relative rates of absorption of four different surfaces to two varying radiation source at different temperature were also investigated. Also, the Stefan-Boltzmann law at high temperatures, the rate of cooling of different surfaces relative to time, and the Stefan-Boltzmann relationship at near room temperature were investigated. At the end, conclusion was ...

Introduction

Psychology pertains to the study of human behavior, reactions, personalities, or even as specific and complicated as how the brain works and functions. It can be considered both as a form of academic discipline and a branch of applied science that deals with the study of different brain functions that are related to mental processes and individual human behaviors. Studying psychology, unlike other academic disciplines, often involves unique processes such as the establishment of generally accepted principles and theories, and verifying the validity of such through research that more often than not involves verification using individual and or group cases. Just ...

Man has always been curious and been investigating the nature of things. He has probed into the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of all phenomena observed. As science evolved, he came up with laws and equations to represent these observations. For many decades, if not centuries, he was satisfied with explaining everything around him using what is today known as ‘Classical Mechanics’. All bodies and phenomena observed could be explained by Newton’s Laws and his equations of motion. In fact this developed into the branch of Classical Mechanics and saw a huge leap in the field of Science. Be it describing ...

“Abstract”

Cholesterol plays a pivotal role in the fluidity of plasma membrane in cells. Evidence of cholesterol evolution from lanosterol suggests that cholesterol has little sensitivity to changes in temperature as opposed to lanosterol. Simulations also revealed that there is no ld-lo coexistence and 3-phase lines in lipid/lanosterol systems as opposed to lipid/cholesterol systems. The sterol also favors a strong interaction with lipids having saturated acyl chains (Miao et al.) which is a key factor in understanding and characterizing the lipid bilayer model. Based on surface potential measurements, cholesterol and ergosterol reduce the penetration of water into the lipid monolayer. Results revealed that excess ...

On the Origin of Species

Evolution, defined as the change in the characteristics of a population that occurs over the course of generations (Belk & Maier, 2013 p. 222), had been considered by various scientists since the beginning of the 19th century. Several evolution theories were put forward attempting to explain the origins of life and the changes witnessed among different generations of organisms. The widely accepted theory then was the special creation story as described in Genesis, the first book of the Bible. In the 1859, Charles Darwin published a book called “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of ...

Introduction

The two sets of the experiment were conducted in which the apparatus was set in way that allows the fluids to flow and was just separated by what is referred to as the heat exchange surface. The aim of the experiment is mainly to help students to know how the heat exchanger works. The device works in a way that it enables the energy transfer from one moving fluid stream to another moving fluid stream. This is one of the heat transfer devices that do exist like the case of the car radiator and the air conditioning systems. This device ...

Abstract

This paper discusses and answers the questions related to the laws of thermodynamics, differences between potential energy and kinetic energy, and differences between overall efficiency and efficiency of a light bulb. Current knowledge regarding thermodynamics has been applied to answer these questions with help of online resources. 1) How are the laws of thermodynamics an important consideration when trying to make the most efficient mechanical machines to do work (such as create light)? A) The Zeroth law of thermodynamics is the fundamental law of physics, which suggests that if two bodies are in thermal equilibrium, and one ...

Introduction

During the Solubility Product experiment you calculated the Solubility Product, Ksp, for calcium hydroxide, an ionic solid that is sparingly soluble in water. This was achieved by titrating a saturated solution of Ca(OH)2 prepared at a certain temperature. The saturated, aqueous, solution of Ca(OH)2 is represented in equation form as shown below.

The equilibrium expression for calcium hydroxide is shown below.

Ksp = [Ca2+][OH–]2 Eq. 1 Equilibrium constants are temperature-dependent and the value of an equilibrium constant can be related to temperature and the Gibbs Free Energy, Gº, through the equation: ∆G°=-RTlnK Eq. 2 In this case we can substitute our ...

Funding is requested from the National Science Foundation in order to carry out proposed research based on the calorimetric study of enthalpy, Gibb’s energy, and entropy. The technique of calorimetric experimentation has changed a great deal from the early 1960s when studies of the heat ionization of water were conducted. The first adiabatic bomb calorimeters were very simple and controlling the difference in temperature between the inside and outside jackets was hard to control. The difference in temperature needs to be as small as possible, close to an infinitesimal amount. Technology has developed to sophisticated levels. The automatic capabilities ...

Introduction

In any field of engineering, precision is very important. This is mainly because any inaccuracy of any kind can have disastrous results. This is the main idea that has led to the increased push for all engineering students to do engineering drawings and dynamics even if the student does not major in any mechanical or structural fields which are mainly known to heavily rely on drawings and design. In the specific field of study, stress and strain in any component is directly affected by its physical dimensions. This is well explained and exhibited in the experiment in which ...

Chemistry

Thermodynamics of Refrigeration

In the olden days winter was the best time of the year for cold drinks, sorbets and ice creams because ice was readily available. Without a thorough understanding of thermodynamics our communities might have to be brought their ice in an ice wagon just like in the olden days. The laws of thermodynamics were developed by scientists and used when processes of the Industrial Revolution were developed. The physics of heat transfer are applied in order to transfer heat away from the portion of a refrigerator or air conditioning that needs to continually cool the air. Now the ...

Heat and Temperature

The transfer of energy from a high temperature body to a lower temperature body is known as heat. Heat travels in form of waves and like any other form of energy it has the potential to bring change into the matter it contacts. This process is usually accompanied by the transfer of entropy, the energy per unit temperature that goes unused. Heat transfer is usually generated by three types of thermal interaction, mainly, conduction, convection and radiation. Conduction is mostly related to the transfer of heat in solids, wherein the materials are in direct contact with each other and the heat ...

Ludwig Boltzmann was an Australian physicist who is well known in the world of physics and Chemistry. The main fields that make him a well known person in the field of science are the molecular motion of particles in which he proposes that molecules must have thermal energy on top of other forms of energy for them to move (Klein 45). He contributed immensely in statistical mechanical physics and statistical thermodynamics. By evaluating amount of energy in molecular bodies, his influence stretched further to cover molecular chemistry. One of the most remembered and significant theory is the H-Theorem. The ...

a) What are the leading primary producers and top consumers in the ecosystem you researched? The research was carried out in the Antarctic marine ecosystem, under this ecosystem and within the food web, the leading producer is phyplankton which produces food for all kinds of animal from small to lager ones. The top consumer in this ecosystem are grazers mainly the zoophylankton and some fish. Generally Antarctic animals make their living in the ocean because the land is to cold and dry commonly known as physical factors. b) Using the energy pyramid concept (Figure 3.16 in the textbook is a ...

Plant and Solar cell

The sun plays an extremely vital role in sustaining the life on earth, exhibited through the emission of solar energy that aids in the cycling of matter, and maintenance of gravity (Miller & Spoolman, 2007). The solar energy reaches the earth through radiation. It flows through the biosphere, warms the atmosphere, evaporates, recycles water, generates winds and support plant growth (Miller & Spoolman, 2007). Further, the energy from the sun also supports photosynthesis, the process by which green plants use natural light to make compound such as carbohydrates that maintain their lives also feed other organisms (Miller & Spoolman, 2007). On the ...

Environmental Economics Exam

Question One

The laws of thermodynamics

The increasing need for environmental consideration and conservation has been a subject in debates and has received equally varied interpretations from many an environmentalist. Of particular significance is the importance of the laws of thermodynamics in environmental economics, environmental policy planning, and policy design. In this era of increased environmental degradation characterized by severe human activities and implications to the environment, it becomes crucial to apply the principles of thermodynamics in studying the different interactions between natural systems and the interaction of technology in the environment. The First and Second thermodynamic laws formed the ...

1. Thermodynamics Thermodynamics, according to mechanical engineering, falls under the fourth semester with a code of MME 2010(3). As a branch of mechanical engineering, it deals with study of the effects as a result of work done by or on material bodies or radiation in space. It is mainly concerned with the interrelationship between the three existing macroscopic variables, temperature, heat, and pressure in reference to the description of physical properties of the radiation and material bodies. Radiation in space and material bodies, are mostly referred to as thermodynamics system. Thermodynamics can be therefore be described succinctly as the ...

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PRINCIPLES OF THERMODYNAMICS AND PRINCIPLES OF ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS

Thermodynamics is a physical knowledge that deals with the work and energy of a system. This was started in the 19th century where scientists discovered how to construct and operate the engines which used steam (Kaufmann, 2002, p. 4). Thermodynamics is often associated with the major response of a system which can be seen and measured in experiments. On the other hand, ecological economics is a view which is policy-oriented that addresses the co evolution and interdependence of economies of human and their usual ecosystems (Daly & Farly, 2010, p. 6). Both ecological economics and thermodynamics have principles which are related.

The relationship between ...