Academic Year:
2025/26
447 - Degree in Physics
26922 - Thermodynamics
Teaching Plan Information
Academic year:
2025/26
Subject:
26922 - Thermodynamics
Faculty / School:
100 - Facultad de Ciencias
Degree:
447 - Degree in Physics
ECTS:
6.0
Year:
3
Semester:
First semester
Subject type:
Compulsory
Module:
---
1. General information
Thermodynamics seeks to establish general laws that govern the behavior of matter and other systems based on the phenomenological relationships established between their measurable macroscopic variables. These laws include the properties of systems associated with the transfer of energy in various forms, particularly in the form of heat.
Thermodynamics avoids basing its developments on knowledge of the internal microscopic structure of systems. This makes it complementary to Statistical Physics, which will be studied in the corresponding subject of the following semester. It shares its objectives but develops them from the assumption that matter is made up of a large number of particles (atoms or molecules), and that properties can be deduced from the laws of mechanics and statistical averages over many particles.
2. Learning results
The student, in order to pass this subject, must demonstrate the following results...
-
Calculate equilibrium parameters for different walls or ligatures.
-
Obtain fundamental relations from the equations of state and vice versa.
-
Calculate the performances of various thermodynamic devices.
-
Obtain thermodynamic potentials of different systems.
-
Obtain thermodynamic expressions from Maxwell's relations.
-
Obtain the basic characteristics of a discontinuous phase transition.
3. Syllabus
-
Historical Introduction to Thermodynamics.
-
Postulates of Thermodynamics
-
Equilibrium conditions and Formal relationships.
- Models of gases.
-
Processes, Maximum Work Theorem, Thermal Engines and Motors.
-
Alternative formulations, Thermodynamic Potentials.
-
Maxwell Relationships.
- Thermodynamical description of other systems.
-
Stability.
-
Phase transitions.
-
The limits of the thermodynamical formalation: critical phenomena and non-equilibrium Thermodynamics.
4. Academic activities
They are organized in lectures (about 40 teaching hours), problem-solving classes (about 15 teaching hours) and a laboratory practice session (about four hours), plus the evaluation session (exam). Participatory methodologies are sought for students, especially in problem-solving classes. The rest of the hours associated with the credits of the subject are non-face-to-face, including the completion of problems and practice reports (see evaluation) and study.
The course schedules will be published at the beginning of the course on the Science Department website.
The tutoring schedule will be agreed with the students at the beginning of the term.
5. Assessment system
The student must demonstrate that they has achieved the intended learning results through the following assessment activities:
Evaluation through activities (30%): It will consist of two parts.
1. Completion and delivery of problems proposed by the teacher throughout the term: 15% of the total grade.
2. Report of the laboratory practices performed: 15% of the total grade.
Written exam (70%):
In principle it will be done in writing and without the help of books, and will consist of answering a set of questions about problems, practical issues and theory, which will have an impact on the expected learning results.
This test will be evaluated on a maximum of 7 points, which added to the result of the continuous evaluation will give the final grade out of 10. In order to pass the subject the student must obtain a minimum grade of 2.8 points in the written exam and 5 in the final grade.
This is without prejudice to the student's right to request to be evaluated by means of a single global test. It will be considered that students opt for this option if they do not make a substantial part of the deliveries associated with the continuous evaluation.
Once the results are published, students will be able to review them in accordance with the Learning Assessment Regulations in force at the University of Zaragoza.
The success rates for this subject in previous academic years can be found on the University of Zaragoza website (Physics degree curriculum, "Surveys and Results" section).
6. Sustainable Development Goals
4 - Quality Education