Thermodynamics Laboratory
Code: 100158 ECTS Credits: 5| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | OB | 3 |
Contact
- Name:
- Francesc Xavier Alvarez Calafell
- Email:
- xavier.alvarez@uab.cat
Teachers
- Albert Beardo Ricol
- Pau Solsona Mateos
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
They do not exist.
Objectives and Contextualisation
The objectives of the practices of the Thermodynamics Laboratory can be summarized in:
1. Apply the fundamental laws and the theoretical principles of Thermodynamics.
2. Familiarize the student with an experimental subject: importance of the instrumentation in the design of experiments, use of measurement devices, acquisition of data in the laboratory, introduction in the methods of analysis of data, use of computers in the lab, etc.
3. Awakening in the student a critical mind regarding the level of confidence of their measurements, calculations and the interpretation of the results.
4. Motivate the student in the bibliographic research to interpret the experimental results and / or deepen other approaches to a particular experiment.
5. Promote experimental work and scientific discussion in a group
Competences
- Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values.
- Communicate complex information in an effective, clear and concise manner, either orally, in writing or through ICTs, and before both specialist and general publics
- Develop strategies for analysis, synthesis and communication that allow the concepts of physics to be transmitted in educational and dissemination-based contexts
- Formulate and address physical problems identifying the most relevant principles and using approximations, if necessary, to reach a solution that must be presented, specifying assumptions and approximations
- Plan and perform, using appropriate methods, study, research or experimental measure and interpret and present the results.
- Take account of social, economic and environmental impacts when operating within one's own area of knowledge.
- Use computer tools (programming languages and software) suitable for the study of physical problems
- Use critical reasoning, show analytical skills, correctly use technical language and develop logical arguments
- Work independently, have personal initiative and self-organisational skills in achieving results, in planning and in executing a project
- Working in groups, assume shared responsibilities and interact professionally and constructively with others, showing absolute respect for their rights.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyse and assess the adequacy of the assemblies prepared and carried out, in order to obtain measurements and the desired results.
- Analyse the influence of various parameters on the simulation of an experiment.
- Communicate complex information in an effective, clear and concise manner, either orally, in writing or through ICTs, in front of both specialist and general publics.
- Correctly assess the uncertainty associated with a measure or set of measures.
- Describe physical phenomena, identify variables, analyse the influence, presenting the results and conclusions of the work developed in a clear and precise manner.
- Describe the function and manner of operation of the measuring instruments used.
- Determine and measure the variables that describe a physical system.
- Discriminate to the most important dependencies and draw the most conclusions from a set of experimental measurements.
- Explain the explicit or implicit code of practice of one's own area of knowledge.
- Foster discussion and critical thinking, evaluating the precision and characteristics of the results obtained.
- Identify the social, economic and environmental implications of academic and professional activities within one's own area of knowledge.
- Suitably present the results of a series of measures through graphs and perform linear regressions.
- Use basic programmes to write reports and carry out basic data processing.
- Use critical reasoning, show analytical skills, correctly use technical language and develop logical arguments
- Use digital sensors for measuring magnitudes.
- Work independently, take initiative itself, be able to organize to achieve results and to plan and execute a project.
- Working in groups, assume shared responsibilities and interact professionally and constructively with others, showing absolute respect for their rights.
- Write and present the results and conclusions of experimental work with rigor and conciseness.
Content
THEORY PROGRAM: (1 credit) (4 theory sessions of 2 hours)
- Computer and Laboratory
- Phase changes and phase diagrams of unary systems
- The temperature and its measurement
- The vacuum: obtaining and measuring
- The heat: propagation mechanisms. Calorimetry
PROGRAM OF LABORATORY PRACTICES: (4 credits) (7 laboratory sessions + 1 session of recovery)
I.- Heat propagation
II.- Calorimetry. Determination of specific calories
III.- Ideal gases
IV.- Real gases
V.- Phase transitions
VI.- Partial molar properties
VII.- Vacuum techniques, thermoelectric phenomena and thermal machines
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| laboratory practices | 30 | 1.2 | 1, 2, 6, 7, 10, 17, 15 |
| lectures | 10 | 0.4 | 1, 2, 6, 5, 8, 12, 15 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| personal working | 35 | 1.4 | 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 18, 16, 13 |
| team working | 47 | 1.88 | 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 18, 16, 17, 13 |
Lectures:
During the first weeks of the course, there will be between 3 and 4 introductory lectures in the Thermodynamics laboratory with the subject theory program. These lectures will consist of a set of presentations in PowerPoint. Students will have this content in sufficient time to follow the classes properly. Some videos related to the subject of the laboratory will also be screened.
Laboratory practices:
The students, in groups of 3 students (if possible formed by members of both genders), will complete a total of 7 laboratory sessions of approximately 3 hours and a half, during which 10 to 11 different practices will be carried out. Students will previously have the scripts of the practices for their preparation. There will be an additional laboratory session for the recovery of practices.
There are two different categories of practices: a) collective report practices (all practices except three) to present, through the Virtual Campus, a single report by group of practices after two weeks, natural, once the experience has been realized; and b) personal report practices (each member of the team will choose a report to be made) to present, through the Virtual Campus, at the end of the teaching period prior to the exam period.
The personal report must consist of the following parts: introduction and objectives, results and discussion, conclusions, bibliography and an annex showing the expressions used to evaluate uncertainties. Collective reports will only collect the results and their discussion, as well as the conclusions of the experiment.
The correction, by the teachers of the laboratory, of the collective reports, will allow to detect conceptual errors in its realization. The students will have an extra period of time in order to return the unsatisfactory reports.
All the results obtained in the laboratory must be correctly presented in tables with the uncertainties and the corresponding units. The uncertainties must have at most two significant figures, the final resultsmust be rounded out based on their uncertainties. The graphics must be presented with a title, the magnitudes represented, the corresponding units, the bars of uncertainties and the results of the adjustments if applicable.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group report | 15% | 0 | 0 | 1, 2, 4, 3, 6, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 18, 17, 13 |
| Individual Report | 30% | 0 | 0 | 1, 2, 4, 3, 6, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 18, 16, 13 |
| Laboratory work | 10% | 0 | 0 | 1, 6, 7, 10, 14, 17, 15 |
| Post processing Test | 15% | 0 | 0 | 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12, 17, 13, 15 |
| Written exam | 30% | 3 | 0.12 | 2, 5, 7, 8, 16, 15 |
Laboratory work: After each practical session, students must submit a file with the data measured during the session. The quality of the data will be assessed. Orderliness and care with the materials used will also be taken into account.
Data processing questionnaires: For the practicals that do not require a group or individual report, a short questionnaire must be submitted with the processed measurements and a basic analysis. Some specific questions must also be answered.
Group report: For one of the practicals, each group must submit a report. The presentation, writing, and formatting of the graphs will be considered, in order to prepare students for writing scientific reports.
Individual report: For one of the practicals, each student must submit a report. The presentation, writing, and formatting of the graphs will be considered, in order to prepare students for writing scientific reports.
Written exam: There will be an evaluation of the knowledge acquired after completing all the practicals. Specific questions about the experiments and the reports will be asked.
Bibliography
- M.D. Baró, G. Orriols, F. Pi, R. Pintó i S. Suriñach. Tècniques Experimentals en Física. Col. Materials, 37. Servei de Publicacions de la UAB, Barcelona,1997.
- G.Garcia, J.Bisquet, M.J.Hernández, S.Bal·le, Ll.Mañosa, Introducció a l’experimentació, Col. Ciències experimentals, Servei de Publicacions Universitat Jaume I, Castelló, 1999
- M.D. Baró, S. Bordas, J.A.Ibañez, J.E.Llebot, S.Suriñach. Experiencias de Termodinámica, Servicio de Publicaciones de la U.A.B. Bellaterra (Barcelona), 1985
- Notes of theory (Campus Virtual)
Software
This subject does not use any particular software
Groups and Languages
Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 1 | Catalan | first semester | afternoon |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 2 | Catalan | first semester | afternoon |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 3 | Catalan | first semester | afternoon |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 4 | Catalan | first semester | afternoon |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 5 | Catalan | first semester | afternoon |
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |