Improving thermodynamics teaching for chemistry students

Abstract

Thermodn. is an important subject matter covered in first year physics and chem. It is also one of the required upper-level courses in subjects like Chem., Mech. Engineering, Materials Engineering, and Chem. Engineering. Due to the traditionally math. nature of this course, the use of "atomistic" visual aids can greatly enhance a chem. student's learning of this subject. By introducing the simple concept of the quantum vol. (QV) of a gas atom first, the idea is to start thermodn. from an atomistic point of view. The QV is the amt. of vol. that an atom's wavelength occupies derived from the cube of the DeBroglie Wavelength. From this, the student learns about entropy diagrams that can visually describe isothermal, isentropic, isochoric, and isobaric processes. An example where this can greatly enhance learning is the subject of the Carnot cycle. This concept also allows some important thermodn. proofs to be proven visually by inspection rather than the traditional math. methods. These diagrams to aid the learning of thermodn. is esp. applicable to chem. students who greatly benefit from an atomistic perspective.