IB DP Unit Planner Thermal Physics SL HL

Ascend International School

Chinmay Bhave on Thursday, Dec 12, 2019 at 10:14 AM

Teacher Subject
Chinmay Bhave Physics

Shared grades Start Date Duration Course part

Eleventh Standard Week 3, October 2 Weeks 3.1-3.2

Unit description

INQUIRY & PURPOSE

Transfer goals
Thermal physics deftly demonstrates the links between the macroscopic measurements essential to many scientific models with the
microscopic properties that underlie these models.

Essential Understandings
Thermal concepts

3.1Thermal physics deftly demonstrates the links between the

macroscopic measurements essential to many scientific models

with the microscopic properties that underlie these models.

3.2 Modelling a gas

The properties of ideal gases allow scientists to make

predictions of the behaviour of real gases.

8.2 Thermal energy transfer

Inquiry Questions
Concept-based Why is red used to represent hot and blue cold?
Skills-based Sketching and interpreting phase change graphs.

STREAM
1

Gas laws
Added by Chinmay Bhave on December 10, 2019
IB DP Unit Planner Thermal Physics SL HL

RESOURCES

Simulations for Thermo

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/physics/heat-and-thermodynamics
Added by Chinmay Bhave on December 10, 2019

Gas modeling
Added by Chinmay Bhave on December 10, 2019

Gas laws Problems

Added by Chinmay Bhave on December 10, 2019

Latent heat and gases

Added by Chinmay Bhave on December 10, 2019

Heat transfer
Added by Chinmay Bhave on December 10, 2019

Moles and heat transfer

Added by Chinmay Bhave on December 10, 2019

CURRICULUM
Aims & Objectives
AIMS

Apply and use a body of knowledge, methods and techniques that characterize science and technology
Develop experimental and investigative scientific skills including the use of current technologies
OBJECTIVES

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of

• facts, concepts and terminology
• methodologies and techniques

Apply
• methodologies and techniques
IB DP Unit Planner Thermal Physics SL HL

• methods of communicating scientific information

Formulate, analyse and evaluate

• hypotheses, research questions and predictions
• primary and secondary data
• scientific explanations

Demonstrate the appropriate research, experimental, and personal skills necessary to carry out insightful and ethical
investigations
Syllabus Content
Core
• 3. Thermal physics
• 3.1 – Thermal concepts
• Nature of science:
• Evidence through experimentation: Scientists from the 17th and 18th centuries were working without the
knowledge of atomic structure and sometimes developed theories that were later found to be incorrect, such
as phlogiston and perpetual motion capabilities. Our current understanding relies on statistical mechanics
providing a basis for our use and understanding of energy transfer in science.

• Understandings:
• Molecular theory of solids, liquids and gases
• Temperature and absolute temperature
• Internal energy
• Specific heat capacity
• Phase change
• Specific latent heat

• Applications and skills:

• Describing temperature change in terms of internal energy
• Using Kelvin and Celsius temperature scales and converting between them
• Applying the calorimetric techniques of specific heat capacity or specific latent heat experimentally
• Describing phase change in terms of molecular behaviour
• Sketching and interpreting phase change graphs
• Calculating energy changes involving specific heat capacity and specific latent heat of fusion and vaporization

• 3.2 – Modelling a gas

• Nature of science:
• Collaboration: Scientists in the 19th century made valuable progress on the modern theories that form the basis
of thermodynamics, making important links with other sciences, especially chemistry. The scientific method
was in evidence with contrasting but complementary statements of some laws derived by different scientists.
Empirical and theoretical thinking both have their place in science and this is evident in the comparison between
the unattainable ideal gas and real gases.

• Understandings:
• Pressure
• Equation of state for an ideal gas
• Kinetic model of an ideal gas
• Mole, molar mass and the Avogadro constant
• Differences between real and ideal gases

• Applications and skills:

• Solving problems using the equation of state for an ideal gas and gas laws
• Sketching and interpreting changes of state of an ideal gas on pressure–volume, pressure–temperature and
IB DP Unit Planner Thermal Physics SL HL

volume–temperature diagrams
• Investigating at least one gas law experimentally

• 8. Energy production
• 8.2 – Thermal energy transfer
• Nature of science:
• Simple and complex modelling: The kinetic theory of gases is a simple mathematical model that produces a
good approximation of the behaviour of real gases. Scientists are also attempting to model the Earth’s climate,
which is a far more complex system. Advances in data availability and the ability to include more processes in
the models together with continued testing and scientific debate on the various models will improve the ability
to predict climate change more accurately.

• Understandings:
• Conduction, convection and thermal radiation
• Black-body radiation
• Albedo and emissivity
• The solar constant
• The greenhouse effect
• Energy balance in the Earth surface–atmosphere system

• Applications and skills:

• Sketching and interpreting graphs showing the variation of intensity with wavelength for bodies emitting thermal
radiation at different temperatures
• Solving problems involving the Stefan–Boltzmann law and Wien’s displacement law
• Describing the effects of the Earth’s atmosphere on the mean surface temperature
• Solving problems involving albedo, emissivity, solar constant and the Earth’s average temperature

Options
• B. Engineering physics
• Core
• B.2 – Thermodynamics
• Nature of science:
• Variety of perspectives: With three alternative and equivalent statements of the second law of
thermodynamics, this area of physics demonstrates the collaboration and testing involved in confirming
abstract notions such as this.

• Understandings:
• The first law of thermodynamics
• The second law of thermodynamics
• Entropy
• Cyclic processes and pV diagrams
• Isovolumetric, isobaric, isothermal and adiabatic processes
• Carnot cycle
• Thermal efficiency

• Applications and skills:

• Describing the first law of thermodynamics as a statement of conservation of energy
• Explaining sign convention used when stating the first law of thermodynamics as Q=ΔU+W
• Solving problems involving the first law of thermodynamics
• Describing the second law of thermodynamics in Clausius form, Kelvin form and as a consequence of
entropy
• Describing examples of processes in terms of entropy change
• Solving problems involving entropy changes
• Sketching and interpreting cyclic processes
IB DP Unit Planner Thermal Physics SL HL

• Solving problems for adiabatic processes for monatomic gases using pV5/3 = constant
• Solving problems involving thermal efficiency

ASSESSMENT
Formative assessment
Once a month.

Summative assessment
At the end of the semester.

Peer and self assessment

Once a month.

Assessment criteria
SL Criteria
Internal Assessment
Individual investigation
A: Personal engagement
B: Exploration
C: Analysis
D: Evaluation

External Assessment
Paper 1
Multiple-choice questions on the core material

Paper 3
One data-based question and several short-
answer questions on experimental work

HL Criteria
Internal Assessment
Individual investigation
A: Personal engagement
B: Exploration
C: Analysis
D: Evaluation

External Assessment
Paper 1
Multiple-choice questions on core and higher
material

Paper 3
One data-based question and several short-
answer questions on experimental work
Short-answer and extended-response questions
from one option
IB DP Unit Planner Thermal Physics SL HL

LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Prior learning experiences
Basics of thermodynamics such as Kelvin temperature, specific heat, Latent heat.

Pedagogical approaches
Using a temperature sensor plotting graph on data logger to analyse the change in temperature.

Feedback
By assessing tests and testing performance of the student.

Support materials
Examples
Rubrics
Templates
Sample Exam Questions

Learning Process
Lecture
Small group/pair work
Individual presentations

Differentiation
Extend learning

CONNECTIONS
Approaches to Learning
Thinking
Social
Research

Learner Profile
Inquirers

Knowledgeable

Thinkers

Open-minded

Reflective

Metacognition
Reflection on concepts

International Mindedness
Global temperature rise.
IB DP Unit Planner Thermal Physics SL HL

Language and learning

Activating background knowledge
Scaffolding for new learning
Acquisition of new learning through practice

REFLECTIONS & EVALUATION