ME209.1x is a basic course in thermodynamics, designed for students of mechanical engineering. We will study the terms and concepts used in thermodynamics, with precise definitions. The three laws of thermodynamics (zeroth, first, and second) will be explored in detail, and the properties of materials will be studied. Many useful relations will be derived. The topics include: basic concepts and definitions the work interaction the first law, energy, and the heat interaction the zeroth law, temperature, and scales of temperature properties of gases and liquids, equations of state the second law, thermodynamic temperature scales, and entropy relations between properties open thermodynamic systems There will be emphasis on problem-solving. Students will need to spend significant effort on solving exercises. The course is designed for students in mechanical engineering. However, others (both engineers and scientists) are likely to find it useful. The course has also been found to be useful to teachers of thermodynamics. Please note that this course is self-paced and you can enroll at any time. At normal pace, this course requires 12 weeks of study, about 10 hours a week. FAQ What topics will the course cover? This is a basic course in Engineering Thermodynamics. The topics covered include: work interaction, the First Law, energy, heat interaction, the Zeroth Law, temperature, the Second Law, entropy, relations between properties, and open thermodynamic systems. What are the learning outcomes of this course? The student should be able to understand the basic concepts of Themodynamics, and should be able to solve problems related to Thermodynamics in Mechanical Engineering. Roughly how many hours will I have to spend on the course? About 8 to 10 hours each week for 12 weeks. Is this course related to a IIT Bombay campus course? Yes. It is based on 'ME209 Thermodynamics', a course at IIT Bombay for second-year Mechanical Engineering students. What are the prerequisites? Basic knowledge of high-school physics and chemistry is assumed; ability to do college calculus (differentiation, integration, partial derivatives, and exact differentials) is required. I don't have the prerequisites, Can I still take the course? Yes, but you will have to make some extra effort to overcome this. What if I take a vacation? The course schedule is designed with this in mind! You can work three weeks ahead in the course, and the exams are one week after the material. Even if you have a four-week vacation, you do not need to miss any deadlines and can still complete all of the material. Do I need to purchase anything for this course? A calculator will be needed. You may wish to purchase a book. What will the assignments be like? Problem-solving. I have a busy schedule this fall. Can I still take the course? Yes, provided you can devote about 8 to 10 hours a week for 12 weeks. My background is physics / chemistry / mathematics / engineering -other-than-mechanical. Will this course be useful to me? Thermodynamics is a basic science, and this is a basic course in it. The principles will be taught for all, but the illustrations and applications will be of direct interest to mechanical engineers. All others are welcome!
What you'll learn
- How to relate the zeroth, first and second laws to basic thermodynamic properties, like energy, temperature, and entropy, and to interactions like work and heat
- How to interpret entropy change and entropy production and the related terms isentropic and reversible
- How to derive property relations in an easy manner, and get used to the steam tables
- Solve problems by applying the first and second law of thermodynamics
