CBSE Class 11 Physics Notes Chapter 12: CBSE Class 11 Physics Chapter 12 covers

Thermodynamics, a branch of physics concerned with heat and temperature and their relation to
energy and work.

It's a part of physics that deals with heat, temperature, energy, and how they relate to each
other. In simpler terms, it's about understanding how things get hot or cold, how energy moves
around, and how work is done.

This chapter teaches us about different concepts like how heat flows, the laws that govern how
heat works, and how things like engines and refrigerators function.

Understanding thermodynamics helps us understand everyday things like how our car engines
work or why ice melts when it gets warmer. By studying this chapter, we learn the basics of
thermodynamics, which is useful for understanding many aspects of the world around us.

CBSE Class 11 Physics Notes Chapter 12

Thermodynamics PDF
You can find the PDF notes for Chapter 12 of CBSE Class 11 Physics, which is all about
Thermodynamics, by clicking on the link provided below. These notes are helpful for learning
more about the topic and understanding it better.

Whether you're studying for exams or just want to learn more about thermodynamics, these
notes can be really useful.

CBSE Class 11 Physics Notes Chapter 12 Thermodynamics PDF

CBSE Class 11 Physics Notes Chapter 12

Thermodynamics
Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics is all about how different types of energy relate to heat. It helps us understand
how energy changes into heat and vice versa. Thermal energy is what we call the energy that
comes from heat.

When the tiny particles inside something start moving, they produce heat. The faster these
particles move, the more heat they produce. That's the basic idea behind thermodynamics.

Laws of Thermodynamics
The laws of thermodynamics are fundamental principles that govern the behavior of energy,
temperature, and entropy in thermodynamic systems. These laws define the relationships
between these physical quantities and help characterize systems in thermal equilibrium.

There are four main laws of thermodynamics:

Zeroth Law: This law establishes the concept of thermal equilibrium. It states that if two
systems are in thermal equilibrium with a third system, then they are in thermal equilibrium with
each other.

First Law: Also known as the law of conservation of energy, this law states that the total energy
of a system remains constant when heat and work are exchanged with the surroundings. It
describes the relationship between the work done on a system, the heat added to the system,
and the change in the system's internal energy.

Second Law: This law asserts that it is impossible to create a system that operates in a cycle
and produces no effect other than the transfer of heat from a cooler body to a hotter body. In
simpler terms, it states that not all heat energy can be converted into useful work.

Third Law: The third law states that as a system approaches absolute zero temperature, its
entropy approaches a minimum value. Absolute zero is the lowest possible temperature at
which all thermal motion ceases.

Enthalpy

In thermodynamics, enthalpy is a measure of energy. It represents the total heat content of a

system, which includes both the system's internal energy and the energy required to maintain
the system's pressure and volume.

Mathematically, enthalpy (denoted by H) is calculated as the sum of the internal energy (E) and
the product of the system's pressure (P) and volume (V).

So, H = E + PV

Entropy
Entropy is a fundamental concept in thermodynamics that represents the degree of disorder or
randomness in a system. It is a measure of the number of possible ways energy can be
distributed among the particles in a system. In simpler terms, entropy quantifies the amount of
chaos, randomness, or uncertainty in a system. It increases when a system transitions from an
ordered state to a more disordered state, and it tends to increase over time in isolated systems,
in accordance with the second law of thermodynamics.

Maxwell Law of Distribution of Molecules

The Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, often referred to as the Maxwell Law of Distribution of
Molecules, describes the distribution of speeds of particles in a gas at a given temperature. It
states that the speeds of particles in a gas follow a probability distribution, with the majority of
particles having speeds near the average, and fewer particles having speeds that are either
much higher or much lower than the average.

This distribution curve is bell-shaped, resembling a normal distribution, with the peak
representing the most probable speed of particles. The Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution is crucial
for understanding various properties of gases, such as pressure, temperature, and diffusion.

Brownian Motion

Brownian motion is the random motion of particles suspended in a fluid (liquid or gas), resulting
from their collisions with the fast-moving atoms or molecules in the fluid. This phenomenon was
first observed by the Scottish botanist Robert Brown in 1827 when he observed pollen grains
suspended in water. He noticed that the pollen grains moved randomly, even though there was
no external force acting on them.

Brownian motion occurs because the particles in the fluid are constantly moving due to their
thermal energy. When these fast-moving fluid particles collide with the suspended particles, they
transfer momentum to them, causing them to move erratically. This motion is characterized by
random fluctuations in position and is often described as a "random walk."

Brownian motion has important implications in various fields, including physics, chemistry,
biology, and finance. It has been used to study the properties of colloidal suspensions, the
diffusion of molecules in liquids and gases, and even the movement of stock prices in financial
markets.

Isobaric Process

An isobaric process is a thermodynamic process that occurs at constant pressure. During an

isobaric process, the pressure of the system remains unchanged while other properties, such as
volume, temperature, and internal energy, may vary. Isobaric processes are commonly
encountered in various natural and engineering systems, such as in the operation of a gas
turbine or in the heating of a substance in an open container.

Boiling Process

During the boiling process,

Internal energy, Q=mLV𝑄=𝑚𝐿𝑉, where LV𝐿𝑉 is the latent heat of vaporization.

Work done, W=P[V2V1]𝑊=𝑃[𝑉2𝑉]

(Pressure is constant during boiling and it is equal to atmospheric pressure)

With respect to the first law of thermodynamics,

ΔU=Q−WΔ𝑈=𝑄−𝑊

⇒ΔU=mLf−P(V2−V1)

Refrigerator and Heat Pumps

Refrigerators and heat pumps are both devices that transfer heat from one location to another,
but they operate in different ways and serve different purposes.

A refrigerator is a device used to cool enclosed spaces or substances, typically to lower

temperatures than the surroundings. It operates by removing heat from the interior of the
refrigerator and transferring it to the surrounding environment. This process is achieved through
the use of a refrigeration cycle, which typically involves the compression and expansion of a
refrigerant fluid.

On the other hand, a heat pump is a device used to transfer heat from one location to another.
Unlike a refrigerator, which only removes heat, a heat pump can both remove heat from a cooler
space and deliver it to a warmer space. Heat pumps are commonly used for heating and cooling
buildings, as well as for heating water and other fluids. They operate using a similar refrigeration
cycle but can be reversed to provide either heating or cooling, depending on the desired
outcome.

Refrigerators are primarily used for cooling, while heat pumps are used for both heating and
cooling. Both devices rely on the principles of thermodynamics and the refrigeration cycle to
transfer heat effectively.

Carnot Engine

Sadi Carnot devised an ideal cycle of operation for a heat engine termed the Carnot cycle.

The engine used for realizing this ideal cycle is known as the Carnot heat engine.

Carnot Theorem

Statement:

When operating between two specified temperatures, 𝑇1T1​of the hot reservoir (the source) and
𝑇2T2​of the cold reservoir (the sink), no engine can achieve greater efficiency than the Carnot
engine.

Proof:
Step 1: Let's consider a reversible engine, labeled as R, and an irreversible engine, labeled as
I, operating between the source (hot reservoir at 𝑇1T1​) and the sink (cold reservoir at 𝑇2T2​).

Step 2: We'll pair up these two engines so that I functions as a heat engine and R operates as a
refrigerator.

Step 3: Suppose engine I absorbs heat 𝑄1Q1​from the source, delivers work 𝑊1W1​, and
releases the remaining heat 𝑄1−𝑊1Q1​−W1​to the sink during a single cycle.

Step 4: Engine R is set up to return the same amount of heat to the source, extracting 𝑄2Q2​
from the sink and requiring work 𝑊=𝑄1−𝑄2W=Q1​−Q2​to be done on it.

Step 5: Let's assume that the efficiency of engine R (𝜂𝑅ηR​) is less than that of engine I (𝜂𝐼ηI​),
implying that when R acts as an engine, it yields less work output than I. Consequently,
𝑊<𝑊1W<W1​for a given 𝑄1Q1​, and 𝑄1−𝑊>𝑄1−𝑊1Q1​−W>Q1​−W1​.

Step 6: In this scenario, the I-R system would extract

(𝑄1−𝑊)−(𝑄1−𝑊1)=𝑊1−𝑊(Q1​−W)−(Q1​−W1​)=W1​−W amount of heat and deliver the same
amount of work in a single cycle without any change in the source or elsewhere. This
contradicts the second law of thermodynamics (Kelvin-Planck statement).

Thus, the assumption that 𝑄1>𝑄𝑅Q1​>QR​is incorrect.

A similar argument can be established for the second statement of the Carnot theorem, i.e., the
Carnot efficiency being independent of the working substance. Therefore,
𝑄1𝑄2=𝑇1𝑇2Q2​Q1​​=T2​T1​​will always hold true for any working substance utilized in a Carnot
engine.

Kinetic Theory Of Gases

The kinetic theory of gases is a model that explains the behavior of gases based on the motion
of their particles. According to this theory:

1. Gases consist of tiny particles (atoms or molecules) that are in constant, random motion.
2. The volume of the particles themselves is negligible compared to the total volume of the
gas.
3. The particles undergo elastic collisions with each other and with the walls of the
container, transferring momentum but not losing energy.
4. The average kinetic energy of the gas particles is directly proportional to the temperature
of the gas and is the same for all gases at the same temperature, regardless of their
mass or chemical composition.
5. The pressure exerted by a gas is due to the collisions of its particles with the walls of the
container.

Maxwell Law of Distribution of Molecules

Maxwell's law of distribution of molecules, also known as the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution,
describes the distribution of speeds (or velocities) of molecules in a gas at a particular
temperature. It was developed by James Clerk Maxwell and Ludwig Boltzmann in the 19th
century.

The key points of Maxwell's law of distribution are:

1. The distribution of molecular speeds in a gas follows a specific mathematical function

known as the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution curve.
2. According to this distribution, most molecules in a gas have speeds near the average
speed, and there is a range of speeds extending in both directions from the average.
3. The distribution curve is bell-shaped, with the peak representing the most probable
speed of molecules.
4. As temperature increases, the distribution curve spreads out, indicating that the range of
molecular speeds becomes broader. This means that at higher temperatures, there is a
greater proportion of molecules with higher speeds.
5. The distribution curve shifts to higher speeds as temperature increases, reflecting the
fact that the average speed of molecules increases with temperature.

Benefits of CBSE Class 11 Physics Notes Chapter 12

Thermodynamics
CBSE Class 11 Physics Notes Chapter 12 on Thermodynamics provide several benefits for
students:

Comprehensive Coverage: These notes cover all the important concepts and topics related to
thermodynamics as per the CBSE syllabus, providing students with a thorough understanding of
the subject matter.

Simplified Explanation: The notes present complex thermodynamic principles in a simplified

manner, making it easier for students to grasp and comprehend the concepts.

Clarity and Organization: The notes are well-organized, with clear explanations and examples
provided for each topic. This helps students to follow along and understand the material more
effectively.

Practice Questions: Many notes include practice questions and problems, enabling students to
test their understanding and reinforce their learning through practice.

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