Thermal Energy and Gas Laws: Understanding Heat, Phase Changes, and Gas Behavior
Course Summary:
This course explores the principles of thermal energy and the behavior of gases, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of heat transfer, phase changes, radiative properties, and gas laws. Through theoretical study and hands-on experiments, students will investigate specific heat, the Ideal Gas Law, blackbody radiation, and the connections between thermal energy and gas behavior in real-world applications.
Course Units:
Fundamentals of Thermal Energy
- Learn about heat transfer mechanisms, thermal equilibrium, and the properties of materials affecting heat flow.
Specific Heat and Phase Changes
- Study the concepts of specific heat capacity, latent heat, and energy conservation during phase transitions.
Blackbody Radiation, Albedo, and Emissivity
- Explore the radiative properties of materials, including blackbody radiation, albedo, and emissivity, and their impact on energy balance.
- Understand the kinetic molecular theory and analyze the relationships between pressure, volume, and temperature in gases.
Ideal Gas Law and Applications
- Apply the Ideal Gas Law to solve problems involving molar volume, partial pressures, translational speed, and internal energy.
Thermodynamics: Exploring Energy, Heat, and Work
Course Summary:
This course provides an in-depth exploration of thermodynamics, covering the principles of energy transfer, heat, and work. Students will examine key laws of thermodynamics, entropy, and practical applications such as heat engines, refrigeration, and renewable energy systems. Through problem-solving, experiments, and real-world case studies, learners will connect theoretical principles to practical technologies.
Course Units:
Introduction to Thermodynamics
- Learn the basic concepts of systems, state variables, equilibrium, and thermodynamic processes.
The First Law of Thermodynamics
- Explore energy conservation, internal energy, work, and heat, with applications in real-world systems.
Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics
- Understand entropy, the directionality of processes, and the implications of the Second Law.
Heat Engines and the Carnot Cycle
- Study the principles of heat engines, refrigerators, and the efficiency of thermodynamic cycles.
Applications of Thermodynamics
- Apply thermodynamic principles to power plants, refrigeration, renewable energy, and biological systems.
Introduction to Electric Circuits: Fundamentals and Applications
Course Summary:
This course provides an essential introduction to the principles of electric circuits, focusing on electric potential, current, resistance, and the foundational laws of circuit analysis. Through hands-on experiments, problem-solving, and real-world applications, students will explore resistors in series and parallel, Kirchhoff's Laws, and practical uses of electric power in everyday life. By the end of the course, students will have a solid understanding of electric circuits and their role in modern technology.
Course Units:
- Explore electric charge, potential, current, resistance, and basic circuit components.
Ohm’s Law and Basic Circuit Analysis
- Learn the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance and analyze simple circuits.
Resistors in Series and Parallel
- Study the behavior and calculation of resistors in series, parallel, and mixed configurations.
Kirchhoff’s Laws and Circuit Analysis
- Use Kirchhoff’s Current and Voltage Laws to analyze complex circuits and multi-loop systems.
Power and Real-World Applications of Circuits
- Investigate power dissipation, internal resistance, measurement tools, and practical circuit applications.