FIRST LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS
Important Topics:
1. Thermodynamic Systems:
o Definition and types: open, closed, and isolated systems.WebNotee
2. Work Done During Volume Change:
o Calculation of work done by/on the system during expansion or compression.
3. Heat and Work; Internal Energy:
o Understanding the relationship between heat (Q), work (W), and internal energy
(U).
4. First Law of Thermodynamics:
o Statement and mathematical expression.BYJU'S
o Interpretation and applications.
5. Thermodynamic Processes:
o Isothermal, adiabatic, isobaric, and isochoric processes.NEB Result & News
o Representation on P-V diagrams.
6. Specific Heat Capacities of an Ideal Gas:
o At constant pressure (Cp) and constant volume (Cv).Nepal Enotes
o Relation between Cp and Cv (Mayer’s relation).NEB Result &
News+1WebNotee+1
7. Work Done in Isothermal and Adiabatic Processes:
o Derivation and calculation of work done in these processes.NEB Result & News
8. Reversible and Irreversible Processes:
o Definitions and distinctions.
Essential Formulas:
• First Law of Thermodynamics:
o ΔU = Q - WMoECDC Library+2BYJU'S+2BYJU'S+2
▪ Where:
▪ ΔU = Change in internal energy
▪ Q = Heat added to the system
▪ W = Work done by the system
• Work Done in Isothermal Process:
o W = nRT ln(V₂/V₁)
▪ Where:
▪ n = Number of moles
▪ R = Universal gas constant
▪ T = Absolute temperature
▪ V₁, V₂ = Initial and final volumes
• Work Done in Adiabatic Process:
o W = (P₁V₁ - P₂V₂) / (γ - 1)
▪ Where:
▪ P₁, P₂ = Initial and final pressures
▪ V₁, V₂ = Initial and final volumes
▪ γ = Cp/Cv (Ratio of specific heats)
• Mayer’s Relation:
o Cp - Cv = RNEB Result & News
▪ Where:
▪ Cp = Specific heat at constant pressure
▪ Cv = Specific heat at constant volume
▪ R = Universal gas constant
Sample Questions:
1. State and explain the First Law of Thermodynamics. Discuss its limitations.
2. Derive the expression for work done during an isothermal expansion of an ideal gas.
Nepali Educate+3Physics in Depth+3Nepal Enotes+3
3. Explain the concept of internal energy. How does it change in an adiabatic process?
Physics in Depth
4. Prove that for an adiabatic process, PV^γ = constant.NEB Result & News
5. Distinguish between reversible and irreversible processes with suitable examples.
6. A gas expands isothermally from an initial volume of 1 m³ to 4 m³ at a temperature of
300 K. Calculate the work done by the gas.
Recommended Resources:
• First Law of Thermodynamics Notes:
o Nepal Enotes - First Law of Thermodynamics
• Numerical Problems on First Law of Thermodynamics:
o WebNotee - First Law of Thermodynamics Notes and Numericals
• First Law of Thermodynamics Questions:
o BYJU'S - First Law of Thermodynamics Questions
Video Lectures:
• First Law of Thermodynamics - Class 12 Physics NEB:
o YouTube - First Law of Thermodynamics
These resources provide comprehensive explanations, derivations, and practice problems to aid
in mastering the First Law of Thermodynamics chapter.
