Introduction to Thermodynamics: Transferring Energy from Here to There from Coursera

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course provides an introduction to the most powerful engineering principles you will ever learn - Thermodynamics: the science of transferring energy from one place or form to another place or form. We will introduce the tools you need to analyze energy systems from solar panels, to engines, to insulated coffee mugs. More specifically, we will cover the topics of mass and energy conservation principles; first law analysis of control mass and control volume systems; properties and behavior of pure substances; and applications to thermodynamic systems operating at steady state conditions.

COURSE FORMAT

The class consists of lecture videos, which average 8 to 12 minutes in length. The videos include integrated In-Video Quiz questions. There are also quizzes at the end of each section, which include problems to practice your analytical skills that are not part of video lectures. There are no exams.

GRADING POLICY

Each question is worth 1 point. A correct answer is worth +1 point. An incorrect answer is worth 0 points. There is no partial credit. You can attempt each quiz up to three times every 8 hours, with an unlimited number of total attempts. The number of questions that need to be answered correctly to pass are displayed at the beginning of each quiz. Following the Mastery Learning model, students must pass all 8 practice quizzes with a score of 80% or higher in order to complete the course.

ESTIMATED WORKLOAD

If you follow the suggested deadlines, lectures and quizzes will each take approximately ~3 hours per week each, for a total of ~6 hours per week.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Basic undergraduate engineering or science student.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

- What are the prerequisites for taking this course?

An introductory background (high school or first year college level) in chemistry, physics, and calculus will help you be successful in this class.

-What will this class prepare me for in the academic world?

Thermodynamics is a prerequisite for many follow-on courses, like heat transfer, internal combustion engines, propulsion, and gas dynamics, to name a few.

-What will this class prepare me for in the real world?

Energy is one of the top challenges we face as a global society. Energy demands are deeply tied to the other major challenges of clean water, health, food resources, and poverty. Understanding how energy systems work is key to understanding how to meet all these needs around the world. Because energy demands are only increasing, this course also provides the foundation for many rewarding professional careers.

What's inside

Syllabus

Week 1

In this module, we frame the context of energy and power supply and demand around the world. You will learn that understanding and correctly using units are critical skills for successfully analyzing energy systems. It is also important to be able to identify and categorize systems as “open” or “closed” and “steady state” or “transient”. Thermodynamics is a topic that is very notation intense, but the notation is very helpful as a check on our assumptions and our mathematics. Additionally, in this module we will refresh our understanding of some common thermodynamic properties.

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Develops the principles of thermodynamics and energy conversion, which are core skills for engineering and science students

Taught by Margaret Wooldridge, a recognized expert in thermodynamics and energy systems

Explores the application of thermodynamics to real-world systems, such as power plants and renewable energy

Requires no formal prerequisites, making it accessible to students of varying backgrounds

Assesses learning through practice quizzes and does not include exams

Targeted towards basic undergraduate engineering or science students and may not be suitable for advanced learners

Reviews summary

Solid introduction to thermodynamics

According to students, this course provides a solid foundation in the core principles of thermodynamics, focusing on energy transfer and conservation. Learners particularly praise the clarity of the instructor's explanations and the course's ability to break down complex topics into manageable parts. The lecture videos are described as concise and easy to follow. While the quizzes are sometimes noted as challenging, the mastery learning model with unlimited attempts is widely appreciated for encouraging deep understanding and allowing students to work at their own pace. It's seen as a valuable prerequisite for more advanced engineering courses and relevant to real-world energy challenges.

Quizzes are difficult but valuable

"The quizzes were challenging, which forced me to really understand the material."

"Some quiz questions felt tricky or required a deeper application than expected."

"While difficult, the quizzes are essential practice for applying the concepts."

Short lectures are easy to follow

"The short lecture videos (8-12 mins) were perfect for staying focused."

"Lectures are bite-sized and easy to digest."

"I liked that the videos were short; it made it easier to review specific topics."

Unlimited attempts help reinforce

"The mastery learning model with unlimited attempts is fantastic."

"Being able to retake quizzes until I reached 80% was crucial for solidifying my understanding."

"Unlimited attempts relieve stress and allow focusing on learning, not just passing once."

Builds a strong understanding of basics

"This course gave me a really good foundation in thermodynamics."

"It covers the fundamental concepts thoroughly."

"It provides the necessary basics to understand energy transfer principles."

"Great intro course, covers all the key concepts you need for follow-on classes."

Instructor makes complex topics clear

"The professor is great at explaining concepts clearly and concisely."

"His explanations make even the most challenging topics digestible."

"I really appreciated how clearly the instructor explained the concepts; it made learning much easier."

Requires solid math/science background

"You definitely need a strong background in physics and calculus to succeed."

"The stated prerequisites might be understated; some topics assume prior comfort with derivatives and integrals."

"Make sure your high school physics and calculus are solid before starting."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to Thermodynamics: Transferring Energy from Here to There with these activities:

Read: Thermodynamics - An Engineering Approach, 5th Edition

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Read the selected chapters of the textbook to refresh your understanding of thermodynamics concepts and prepare for the course material.

View Loose Leaf for Thermodynamics: An Engineering... on Amazon

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Review the Table of Contents and identify relevant chapters.
Read selected chapters thoroughly, taking notes and highlighting key concepts.
Complete end-of-chapter exercises and problems to test your comprehension.

Energy Balance Calculations Practice

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Strengthen your understanding of the first law of thermodynamics by solving practice problems involving energy balance calculations.

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Review the concepts of energy transfer, work, and heat.
Identify the system and surroundings for each problem.
Apply the first law of thermodynamics to set up energy balance equations.
Solve for unknown variables, such as heat transfer, work, or internal energy change.
Check your answers for reasonableness and consistency.

Follow Khan Academy Thermodynamics Tutorials

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Supplement your understanding of thermodynamics principles by following guided tutorials that provide clear explanations and interactive examples.

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Visit the Khan Academy website and navigate to the Thermodynamics section.
Watch videos and complete interactive exercises on the basics of thermodynamics.
Focus on topics aligned with the course curriculum, such as laws of thermodynamics and types of systems.

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Summary of Thermodynamic Properties

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Enhance your grasp of thermodynamic properties by creating a comprehensive summary.

Browse courses on Thermodynamic Properties

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Gather information from lecture notes, textbooks, and online resources.
Define and explain key thermodynamic properties, including specific heats, enthalpy, and internal energy.
Provide examples and applications of these properties in engineering systems.
Organize your summary in a clear and concise manner.
Review and refine your summary to ensure understanding.

Solve Thermodynamics Practice Problems

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Reinforce your problem-solving skills and deepen your understanding of thermodynamic concepts by practicing with a variety of problems.

Browse courses on Heat Transfer

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Gather practice problems from textbooks, online resources, or lecture notes.
Set aside dedicated time for practice, aiming to solve a specific number of problems.
Work through problems step-by-step, ensuring you understand the underlying principles.
Compare your solutions to provided answers or consult with classmates or instructors for feedback.

Attend a Thermodynamics Workshop or Conference

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Expand your knowledge and network with professionals in the field by attending a specialized thermodynamics workshop or conference.

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Research and identify relevant workshops or conferences.
Register for the event and prepare to actively participate.
Attend sessions, take notes, and engage in discussions with speakers and attendees.

Design a Thermodynamic System Diagram

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Apply your knowledge of thermodynamic systems by designing a detailed diagram that represents a specific process or application.

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Select a specific thermodynamic process or application to focus on.
Research and gather information about the system components and processes involved.
Create a schematic diagram using appropriate symbols and notations to represent the system.
Label and annotate the diagram to clearly explain the flow of energy and matter through the system.

Contribute to OpenThermodynamics

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Engage with the thermodynamics community and contribute to the advancement of knowledge by participating in open-source projects related to thermodynamics.

Browse courses on Open Source Software

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Explore open-source projects and identify areas where you can contribute.
Report bugs or suggest improvements to existing code.
Write documentation or tutorials to help others use thermodynamics software.

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Thermodynamics: Transferring Energy from Here to There will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Petroleum Engineer

Petroleum Engineers are responsible for the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas resources, which are essential to meeting global energy demands. This course provides a foundation in thermodynamics, which is crucial for understanding the behavior of these resources and designing efficient extraction and processing systems. Topics such as energy transfer, conservation laws, and thermodynamic properties are directly applicable to the work of Petroleum Engineers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Petroleum Engineer

Nuclear Engineer

Nuclear Engineers design and operate nuclear power plants, which generate electricity without producing greenhouse gases. Thermodynamics plays a vital role in this field, as it helps engineers understand the heat transfer processes, fluid dynamics, and material properties involved in nuclear reactor design and operation. This course provides a strong foundation in these concepts, enabling Nuclear Engineers to contribute to the development of safe and efficient nuclear energy systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nuclear Engineer

Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Engineers design, build, and maintain a wide range of machines, from cars to airplanes to medical devices. Thermodynamics is fundamental to this field, as it helps engineers analyze energy conversion processes, optimize system efficiency, and design components that operate reliably under various conditions. This course provides a comprehensive understanding of thermodynamic principles, enabling Mechanical Engineers to excel in their work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mechanical Engineer

Chemical Engineer

Chemical Engineers design, construct, and operate plants and processes that transform raw materials into valuable products. Thermodynamics is essential for understanding the chemical reactions, phase transitions, and energy balances involved in these processes. This course provides a solid foundation in thermodynamic principles and their applications, enabling Chemical Engineers to optimize plant design and operation, ensuring efficient and sustainable production.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chemical Engineer

Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace Engineers design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, and related systems. Thermodynamics is crucial in this field, as it helps engineers analyze propulsion systems, design thermal protection systems, and understand the effects of temperature and pressure on aircraft performance. This course provides a strong foundation in thermodynamic principles, enabling Aerospace Engineers to contribute to the advancement of air and space travel.

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Environmental Engineer

Environmental Engineers design and implement solutions to environmental problems, such as pollution control, waste management, and renewable energy. Thermodynamics plays a role in understanding energy efficiency, emissions, and the behavior of environmental systems. This course provides a basic understanding of thermodynamic principles, which can be helpful for Environmental Engineers in analyzing and mitigating environmental impacts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Engineer

Materials Scientist

Materials Scientists develop and characterize new materials for various applications, including energy storage, electronics, and aerospace. Thermodynamics helps understand the relationships between material properties, processing conditions, and performance. This course provides a foundation in thermodynamic principles, enabling Materials Scientists to design and optimize materials for specific applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Materials Scientist

Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical Engineers apply engineering principles to solve problems in healthcare and medicine. Thermodynamics plays a role in understanding the thermal aspects of medical devices, biomaterials, and biological systems. This course provides a basic understanding of thermodynamic principles, which may be helpful for Biomedical Engineers in designing and evaluating medical technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biomedical Engineer

Civil Engineer

Civil Engineers design and construct infrastructure, such as buildings, bridges, and roads. Thermodynamics is not a major focus in this field, but it can be helpful in understanding the behavior of materials under different temperature and pressure conditions. This course provides a basic introduction to thermodynamic principles, which may be useful for certain aspects of Civil Engineering, such as designing thermal insulation systems or analyzing the effects of temperature on structural components.

See salaries and explore the career path for Civil Engineer

Electrical Engineer

Electrical Engineers design, develop, and test electrical systems and devices. Thermodynamics is not directly applicable to most aspects of this field, but it may be helpful in understanding the thermal management of electrical components and systems. This course provides a basic introduction to thermodynamic principles, which may be useful for certain aspects of Electrical Engineering, such as designing cooling systems for electronic devices or analyzing the efficiency of power plants.

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Computer Engineer

Computer Engineers design and build computer systems and software. Thermodynamics is not relevant to most aspects of this field. This course is unlikely to be useful for Computer Engineers.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications. Thermodynamics is not relevant to this field. This course is unlikely to be useful for Software Engineers.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists collect, analyze, and interpret data to solve business problems. Thermodynamics is not relevant to this field. This course is unlikely to be useful for Data Scientists.

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Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts evaluate and make recommendations on investments. Thermodynamics is not relevant to this field. This course is unlikely to be useful for Financial Analysts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers develop and execute marketing campaigns to promote products and services. Thermodynamics is not relevant to this field. This course is unlikely to be useful for Marketing Managers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager