Thermodynamics Area

Thermal Properties of Matter

Topic 17 demos

Open case of A.W. Faber Thermochrom crayons with multiple colored sticks labeled with temperatures in Celsius and a reference chart in the lid

Heat Sensitive Crayons

Thermochromic crayon marks on an aluminum plate change color at specific temperatures when heated with a propane torch. Students see that any reproducible temperature-dependent property can serve as a thermometer, …

Six liquid crystal sheets on a white surface with a reusable heat pad in center; one sheet shows teal/green activation, two show partial blue activation near the heat pad, others are black; orange identification stickers on corners

Temperature-Sensitive Liquid Crystals

Encapsulated liquid crystal sheets change color continuously across a calibrated temperature range, progressing from black through red, green, and blue. Students observe temperature-dependent physical properties and can visualize heat transfer …

Gas thermometer with copper spherical bulb, brass stem, Winsco gauge reading -60 to 60 cm Hg, brass valve with hose barb, and black handle

Finding Absolute Zero

Measure gas pressure at four known temperatures and plot pressure vs. temperature to experimentally determine absolute zero by linear extrapolation. Provides a concrete foundation for the Kelvin scale and Gay-Lussac's …

Heat and The First Law

Topic 26 demos

Cylindrical metal steam heater with lever handle on a wooden V-block, connected by tubing to an Erlenmeyer flask steam generator on a hot plate

Steam Heater for Shot

This apparatus heats metal shot to 100 C using steam, keeping the shot dry for accurate calorimetry. Students use the method of mixtures to measure specific heat capacity. **Note:** This …

Steam heater chamber with control arm supported on a V-shaped wooden block (left), and a sidearm flask on a hot plate connected by rubber tubing (right), on a lab bench with chalkboard behind

Calorimeter

Measures the specific heat of lead using the method of mixtures. Steam-heated lead shot is dropped into water in a calorimeter, and the equilibrium temperature determines via conservation of energy. …

Glass Bunsen ice calorimeter with a central sample tube, outer water jacket, and narrow capillary tube for mercury displacement

Bunsen Ice Calorimeter

Demonstrates how the Bunsen ice calorimeter measures heat transfer indirectly through the volume change of melting ice. Students see that phase transitions occur at constant temperature and that the ice-to-water …

Change of State

Topic 15 demos

3D PVT surface model with color-coded phase regions: black for Solid, yellow for Liquid and two-phase regions (Liquid & Vapor, Solid & Vapor), and red for Gas and Vapor, with labeled axes for Pressure, Volume, and Temperature

PVT Surface

A 3D model shows how pressure, volume, and temperature are interrelated for a real substance, with labeled phase regions (solid, liquid, gas) and coexistence surfaces. Students visualize how familiar 2D …

Composite of four photos: top-left shows the PVT demonstrator with fiber optic lamp and projection lens on a demo bench; middle-left shows the projected image of the pressure gauge and bimetallic thermometer on a screen; bottom-left shows a closer view of the piston-cylinder apparatus with crank handle; right shows a detail of the pressure chamber with gauge and valves

PVT Demonstrator

A piston-cylinder apparatus with projected pressure and temperature gauges demonstrates the relationship between pressure, volume, and temperature in a gas. Students observe pressure and temperature rise during compression, cooling at …

Cast iron ice bomb: a spherical vessel with a threaded cap connected by a curved pipe to a rectangular metal block, shown before freezing

Ice Bomb

Water sealed in a heavy-walled metal container freezes and expands (~9% by volume), generating enough pressure to rupture the container. Students see dramatic evidence of water's anomalous expansion upon solidification …

Kinetic Theory

Topic 4 demos

Top: Full apparatus setup showing smoke generator (dark canister, left), microscope with smoke cell on stage, and video camera mounted on a vertical rod looking down the ocular tube, on a lecture bench. Bottom: Close-up of the smoke cell clamped to the microscope stage with pinch clamps on tubing.

Brownian Motion

Smoke particles in a sealed cell display continuous random jittering from collisions with air molecules, providing direct visual evidence for kinetic molecular theory. Students observe that thermal motion is perpetual …

Overhead view of molecular motion demonstrator: transparent square frame with corner clamps on a white glass plate, containing a large red disk surrounded by smaller blue and green spheres, several blurred from motion

Brownian Motion Model

Models Brownian motion using a mechanically agitated platform: small spheres (gas molecules) randomly collide with a larger disk (dust particle), producing visible jittering motion. Demonstrates that random molecular collisions produce …

Molecular motion demonstrator kit laid out: blue vibrating frame with motor, white wooden energy level frame, plexiglass piston, glass evaporating dish with colored spheres, containers of steel ball bearings in various sizes, wooden spacer, and barriers

Molecular Motion Model

A vibrating frame on an overhead projector drives steel ball bearings to model molecular motion. Students see how temperature (motor speed), pressure (wall collisions), and volume relationships emerge from microscopic …

Gas Law

Topic 4 demos

Setup: yellow Thermolyne hot plate with beaker of boiling water (left), green glass bottle with deflated pink balloon (center), and 2000 mL beaker of ice water (right)

Hot and Cold Air Balloon

Demonstrates Charles's Law ( at constant pressure). A balloon on a bottle inflates in boiling water and collapses in ice water, giving students a direct visual of gas volume changing …

Tan liquid nitrogen dewar with warning label, clear glass bowl, inflated dark green balloon, and metal tongs on a green benchtop

Shrinking Balloon

Students observe Charles's Law ( at constant) as a balloon shrinks dramatically in liquid nitrogen. Comparing balloons filled with air, CO, and helium reveals both the ideal gas relationship and …

EME Corporation Boyle's Law apparatus: graduated glass syringe (left) connected by clear tubing to a circular Bourdon-tube pressure gauge (right) with brass fittings, labeled "BOYLE'S LAW" at the top with a V-P data table

Boyle's Law, Varying Volume

Students observe the inverse relationship between pressure and volume at constant temperature using a syringe connected to a pressure gauge. Provides direct quantitative evidence for Boyle's Law .

Entropy and The Second Law

Topic 8 demos

Two large round-bottom glass flasks on clear cylindrical bases, each containing four white and four red foam balls. The balls sit mixed in the flask bodies and necks.

Maxwell's Demon

Two identical-looking flasks of colored balls are spun — one separates by color, the other doesn't. Demonstrates that apparent ordering requires an outside energy-dissipating mechanism, connecting to the Second Law …

Top: Full setup showing the vortex tube on the lecture bench with two projection thermometers displayed on an overhead projector. Bottom: Close-up of the vortex tube mounted on a base plate with thermometer probes inserted into both outlet ends on rod stands.

Vortex Tube

Compressed air entering a vortex tube (Ranque-Hilsch tube) spontaneously separates into hot and cold streams at opposite ends. Students observe a striking, counterintuitive result that appears to violate the Second …

Bright yellow-orange fireball from an ignited hydrogen balloon, with the candle stick visible entering from the lower right

Hydrogen Balloon

Igniting a hydrogen-filled balloon produces a dramatic fireball and loud bang, demonstrating exothermic combustion. Contrasting with an inert helium balloon highlights the difference between reactive and noble gases. The sound …