Details
There are many different ways that you can go about solving engineering problems. One of the most important methods is energy analysis. Energy is a physical property that allows work of any kind to be done; without it, there would be no motion, no heat, and no life. You wouldn’t be able to get out of bed in the morning, but it wouldn’t matter, because there would be no sun. Without energy, our world would not exist as it does.
Thermodynamics is the study of energy and its transfers though work. It is the link between heat and mechanical exertion. Once you have a solid grasp on thermodynamic concepts, you should be able to understand why certain mechanisms (such as engines and boilers) work the way they do, determine how much work they can put out, and know how to optimize these power systems. A thorough understanding of thermodynamics is crucial to any career that focuses on HVAC systems, car engines, or renewable energy technology.
This course will focus on the fundamentals of thermodynamics, including the First and Second Laws, thermodynamic properties, ideal gases, and equations of state. We will also take a brief look at power cycles so that you understand how these basic concepts
apply to real-world situations (i.e. how they pertain to a steam power plant or your refrigerator). You should note that this class is problem-heavy. Over the course of the semester, you will be exposed to a number of examples that have been designed to
provide you with a visual understanding of the subject matter. The concepts you learn in this course will serve as the basis for more advanced courses—Heat Transfer (ME204) and Thermal-Fluid Systems (ME303)—that will ask you to perform in-depth and working
assessments of engineering problems.
Course Designers: Tuan Dinh and Thi Dang
Primary Resources:
- Professor J. M. Powers’ Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics
- North Carolina State University: Professor Boles' Lecture Notes on Thermodynamics
- IIT Kharagpur Lecture Series on Applied Thermodynamics: Professor P.K.Das
Requirements for Completion: Completion of all readings, assignments, and assessments.
Time Commitment: The materials for this course will take approximately 150 hours to complete.
Saylor Academy’s mission is to open education to all.
Saylor Academy’s mission is sustained by the continued evolution of an open educational ecosystem, and we are dedicated partners in this movement. Saylor’s commitment to the open education ecosystem is founded not just on open educational resources and open source learning technologies, but also on open access to credentials, and ongoing open learning opportunities.
Guided by these beliefs, Saylor Academy is currently focused on the following projects:
Open Courses: Maintenance and Learner-Centered Improvements
- A commitment to the OER community means that we’ll continue to replace open access materials with openly licensed ones in an effort to make Saylor courseware as reusable and remixable as possible.
- Open courses require more instructional supports for learners, so our current improvements focus on ensuring better and more frequent opportunities for Saylor students to practice what they’re learning.
Open Credentials: Adding New Opportunities and Bolstering Existing Ones
- We’re working on expanding our suite of Saylor Direct credit recommended exams, and we’re also keen on working with university partners to develop innovative and flexible partner degree launching and completion programs. ...
Related Courses
