Thermodynamics I

Thermodynamics is the study of energy and energy conversion. These topics are at the heart of modern life, describing everything from the appliances in our homes to aircraft engines to the melting of polar icecaps. The ability to transform energy from one form to another is a pillar of how our world functions and our society progresses.

This course will provide an introductory treatment of thermodynamics from an engineering point of view. We will build a practical understanding of energy, energy conversions, and how we can harness these energy conversions to do useful things for society. After taking this course, you will be able to apply these fundamental concepts to develop solutions to a diverse set of natural and engineering problems that lie at the heart of many crucially important everyday and industrial processes, like in the Brayton cycle jet engine below. 

This course shifts away from traditional lecture-focused methods, emphasizing interactivity and student engagement through in-class group exercises, i-clicker questions, and a custom semester-long group project. The project is central to the course and will be unique for each group, integrating the core principles of the course to model the performance of thermodynamic systems ranging from jet engines to powerplants to oceanic temperature changes. 

The course will equip you with the skills necessary to engage in more specific fields like fluid mechanics and heat transfer and will provide the key foundation for a career in any energy-related field.