1.

Basic Concepts of
Thermodynamics
Thermodynamics|ENG208
Dr. Nawaf Aljuwayhel

Textbook
Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach
7th Edition, Cengel & Boles

Part 2

1. Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics

1-9 Temperature and the Zeroth Law of

Thermodynamics

A cup of hot coffee left on the table eventually cools off. A

cold drink eventually warmed up. Heat is transferred from
the body at higher temperature to the one of lower
temperature until both bodies attain the same temperature.
At this point, the heat transfer stops and the two bodies one
said to have reached thermal equilibrium.
Example 11: Two bodies of different temperatures and in contact.
IRON
150C

IRON
60C

Copper
20C

Copper
60C

Figure 1.19: Two

bodies reaching
thermal equilibrium
after being brought
into contact in an
isolated enclosure

1. Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics

1-9 Temperature and the Zeroth Law of

Thermodynamics

Zeroth law of thermodynamics stats that two bodies are

in thermal equilibrium if both have the same temperature
reading even if thing are not in contact.

1. Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics

1-9 Temperature and the Zeroth Law of

Thermodynamics

Temperature scales enable us to use a common basis

for temperature measurements.

Celsius (SI) and Fahrenheit (English) scales and based

on the freezing or ice point (0C and 32F) and the boiling
or steam point (100C and 212F).[Two-point scales]

Kelvin (SI) and Rankin (English) scales are

thermodynamic temperature scales and are independent
on the properties of any substance. [Absolute

temperature scales ]

the lowest temperature on the kelvin scale is 0 K.

Note that the absolute temperature is what we will
always use to solve our thermodynamic problems
unless it is stated otherwise
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1. Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics

1-9 Temperature and the Zeroth Law of

Thermodynamics
Conversion:
T (K) = T(C) + 273.15
T(R) = T (F) + 459.67

(1-15a)
(1-15b)

T(R) = 1.8 T (K)

T (F) = 1.8 T(C) + 32

(1-16a)
(1-16b)

T (K) = T(C)
T(R) = T (F)

(1-17a)
(1-17b)

T ( R ) =
1.8T ( K )

T ( o F ) =
1.8T ( o C )

Figure 1.20: Comparison

of temperature scales
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1. Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics

1-9 Temperature and the Zeroth Law of

Thermodynamics

Exercise 2: During a heating process, the temperature of a

system rises by 10C. Express this rise in temperature in K, F,
and R.
Give:
Find:
Solution:

1. Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics

1-10 Pressure

Pressure: the force exerted by a fluid per unit area and

has the unit of Pascal (1 Pa = 1 N/m2) or psi (1 psi = 1
pound-force per square inch)
Stress: pressure in solids.

1 bar = 105 Pa = 0.1 MPa = 100 kPa

1 atm = 101.325 kPa
1 atm = 1.01325 bars = 14.696 psi

Figure 1.21: The normal stress (or pressure) on the feet of a

chubby person is much greater that that of a slim person.

1. Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics

1-10 Pressure

Absolute pressure: the actual pressure at a given position and

measured relative to absolute vacuum (i.e. absolute zero
pressure).

Gage pressure: The difference between the absolute and the

local atmospheric pressure.
Pgage = Pabs Patm (1-18)

Vacuum pressure: The

difference between the
atmospheric and the absolute
pressure.
Pvac = Patm Pabs (1-19)

P will donate absolute pressure

unless specified otherwise.

Figure 1.22: Absolute, gage, and

vacuum pressure.
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1. Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics

1-10 Pressure

Gage pressure: Pgage = Pabs Patm (1-18)

Most pressure-measuring devices, are calibrated to read
zero in the atmosphere.

Figure 1.23: A pressure gage open to

the atmosphere reads zero.

1. Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics

1-10 Pressure

Exercise 3: A vacuum gage connected to a chamber reads 40

kPa at a location where the atmosphere pressure is 100 kPa;
determine the absolute pressure in the chamber?
Give:
Find:
Solution:

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1. Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics

1-10 Pressure

Variation of Pressure with Depth

Pressure in a fluid increases with depth because more fluid

rests on deeper layers, and the effect of this extra weight on
a deeper layer is balanced by an increase in pressure.

Figure 1.24: The pressure of a fluid at rest increases

with depth (as a result of added weight (W).
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1. Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics

1-10 Pressure

Variation of Pressure with Depth

Assuming the fluid density is constant, the pressure in a fluid

does not change in the horizontal direction but increases
linearly with depth. Why? P = P2 P1 = gz = z
(1-20)
where = g is the specific weight of the fluid and z is the
pressure head.

Figure 1.24: The pressure of a fluid at rest

increases with depth (as a result of added W).
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Figure 1.25: Free-body diagram of a

rectangular fluid element in equilibrium.

Density of some fluid

Liquid

Density [kg/m3]

Gas

Density [kg/m3]

Water

1000

Air

1.289

Mercury

13600

Co2

1.958

Oil

910

N2

1.246

H2

0.090

T=273.15 k and P = 101 kPa

1. Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics

1-10 Pressure

Variation of Pressure with Depth

Gas pressure in a tank is considered as uniform is too
small.
The pressure at a depth of h from the liquid free surface,
which is open to the atmosphere, is expressed as:
P= Patm + gh or
Pgage= gh
(1-21)

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Example:

1m

H2 O

Air

1m

1. Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics

1-10 Pressure

Exercise 4: Express the pressure at points A, B, C and D?

Which one has the highest pressure?
Water

h2

h1

h3
Mercury

B
C
Figure 1.26

Note: the pressure is always normal to the surface

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Pascals principle

Pascals principle: the pressure applied to a confined

fluid increases the pressure through by the same
amount ( a pressure in a fluid remains constant in the
horizontal direction):

F1

F2
P1=P2

A1

A2

1. Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics

1-11 The Manometer

The Manometer: A device used to measure small and

moderate pressure differences, such that, a fluid column is
used to measure pressure differences.

Since gas pressure in a tank is considered as uniform, then the

pressure anywhere in the tank is similar to the pressure at point 1.

Also P1 = P2 (why?)

Then the pressure at point 2 is

determined directly from:
(1-22)
P2= Patm + gh

Where in this case is the density

of the fluid in the tube.

Water, alcohol, oil or

mercury (for large
pressure difference)

Resolve Examples 1-7, 8 in the textbook.

Figure 1.27: The basic manometer
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1. Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics

1-11 The Manometer

Exercise 5: What is the pressure at point 1?

Patm
Fluid 1

H1

Fluid 2

H2

Fluid 3

H3

1
Figure 1.28

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1. Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics

1-11 The Manometer

Calculate the pressure drop P1-P2

1. Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics

1-12 Barometer & the Atmospheric Pressure

Barometer: A device used to measure the atmospheric

pressure (also know as barometric pressure).
Patm= gh = W/A

(1-23)

Resolve Examples 1-9, 10 in the textbook

W=ghA

A
Mercury
Figure 1.29: The basic barometer

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Pressure

Example 1-8: Determine the atmospheric pressure at

location where the barometric reading is 740 mmHg and
the gravitational acceleration is g=9.81 m/s2. assume the
temperature of mercury to be 10oC, at which its density
is 13,570 kg/m3

Example 1-9
The frictionless piston of a vertical piston-cylinder device
containing a gas has a mass of 60 kg and a cross-sectional area
of 0.04 m2. The local atmospheric pressure is 0.97 bar, and the
gravitational acceleration is 9.81 m/s2.
(a) Determine the pressure inside the cylinder. (b) If some heat is
transferred to the gas and its volume is doubled, do you expect
the pressure inside the cylinder to change?

1. Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics

1-13 Problem-Solving Techniques

Reading assignment:

Section 1-12: Problem Solving Techniques (text

book, pages 33-38)

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