The two pivotal ideas in thermodynamics are heat and temperature. These however are interdependent and their definition draws upon a third concept, that of thermal equilibrium. We report our work on students’ understanding of thermal equilibrium. We found that often the students have not understood the concepts such as a thermodynamic variable and adiabaticity necessary for a discussion of thermal equilibrium. We also noticed that students establish a strong dependence of thermal equilibrium on the size and the material of the objects under study.
PUBLICATIONS
- Pathare S. R., Pradhan H. C., (2005) Students Alternative Conception in Pressure, Heat and Temperature, Physics Education, Vol.21, No.3 – 4, pp.213 – 218.
- Pathare S. R., Pradhan H. C., (2005), Students’ Misconceptions about heat transfer mechanisms and elementary kinetic theory, presented at International Conference on Physics Education – 2005, New Delhi.
- Pathare S. R., Lahane R. D., (2009) Understanding Thermal Equilibrium through Hands on Activities, Proceedings of 6th International Conference on Hands on Science – 2009 at Ahmedabad, Pg.343.
Thesis advisor: H. C. Pradhan
Discussant: Savita Ladage