- ⭐ – Most used in JEE
- ⚠️ – Common Mistake
- 💡 – Memory Hint
Basic Concepts
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | SI Units | Key Notes / Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work Done | [W = \int P, dV] | [W] = work, [P] = pressure, [V] = volume | J | Area under P–V graph ⭐ |
| Heat | [Q = mc\Delta T] | [Q] = heat, [m] = mass, [c] = specific heat, [\Delta T] = temperature change | J | Depends on material |
| Internal Energy | [\Delta U = Q – W] | [\Delta U] = change in internal energy | J | First law ⭐ |
💡 Memory Hint:
Energy balance → Heat supplied = increase in energy + work done
First Law of Thermodynamics
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | SI Units | Key Notes / Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Law | [Q = \Delta U + W] | [Q] = heat supplied, [W] = work done by system | J | Most important ⭐ |
| Alternate Form | [\Delta U = Q – W] | — | J | Same equation rearranged |
💡 Memory Hint:
Always track sign of Q and W ⚠️
Thermodynamic Processes
Isothermal Process ([T = constant])
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | SI Units | Key Notes / Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equation | [PV = \text{constant}] | [P] = pressure, [V] = volume | — | Boyle’s law ⭐ |
| Work Done | [W = nRT \ln\dfrac{V_2}{V_1}] | [n] = moles, [R] = gas constant, [T] = temperature | J | Important ⭐ |
| Energy Change | [\Delta U = 0] | — | J | Depends only on temperature ⚠️ |
💡 Memory Hint:
Isothermal → temperature fixed → no change in internal energy
Adiabatic Process ([Q = 0])
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | SI Units | Key Notes / Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equation | [PV^\gamma = \text{constant}] | [\gamma] = heat capacity ratio | — | Important ⭐ |
| Temperature Relation | [TV^{\gamma-1} = \text{constant}] | — | — | Alternate form |
| Work Done | [W = \dfrac{P_1V_1 – P_2V_2}{\gamma – 1}] | — | J | No heat exchange ⭐ |
💡 Memory Hint:
Adiabatic → no heat exchange
Isochoric Process ([V = constant])
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | SI Units | Key Notes / Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work Done | [W = 0] | — | J | No volume change ⭐ |
| Heat Relation | [Q = \Delta U] | — | J | Entire heat changes internal energy |
💡 Memory Hint:
Constant volume → no work done
Isobaric Process ([P = constant])
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | SI Units | Key Notes / Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work Done | [W = P(V_2 – V_1)] | — | J | Straight line in P–V graph ⭐ |
| Heat Relation | [Q = nC_p \Delta T] | [C_p] = specific heat at constant pressure | J | Used frequently |
💡 Memory Hint:
Constant pressure → simple work formula
Heat Capacities & Relations
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | SI Units | Key Notes / Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specific Heat | [Q = mc\Delta T] | [c] = specific heat | J/kg·K | Basic relation |
| Molar Heat | [Q = nC\Delta T] | [C] = molar heat capacity | J/mol·K | Use in gas problems |
| Relation | [C_p – C_v = R] | [C_p], [C_v] = heat capacities | J/mol·K | Important ⭐ |
| Gamma | [\gamma = \dfrac{C_p}{C_v}] | — | — | Used in adiabatic ⭐ |
💡 Memory Hint:
Always remember → [C_p – C_v = R]
Kinetic Theory of Gases
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | SI Units | Key Notes / Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure Relation | [P = \dfrac{1}{3}\rho v_{rms}^2] | [\rho] = density, [v_{rms}] = root mean square speed | Pa | Molecular view ⭐ |
| RMS Speed | [v_{rms} = \sqrt{\dfrac{3RT}{M}}] | [M] = molar mass | m/s | Depends on temperature ⭐ |
| Average KE | [K = \dfrac{3}{2}kT] | [k] = Boltzmann constant | J | Per molecule |
💡 Memory Hint:
Temperature ∝ kinetic energy
Carnot Engine & Efficiency
| Concept | Formula | Symbols Meaning | SI Units | Key Notes / Tricks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | [\eta = 1 – \dfrac{T_2}{T_1}] | [T_1] = hot temp, [T_2] = cold temp | — | Maximum efficiency ⭐ |
| Work Done | [W = Q_1 – Q_2] | [Q_1] = heat absorbed, [Q_2] = rejected | J | Energy balance |
💡 Memory Hint:
Efficiency depends only on temperature