Experiments
Here are experiments our science specialists have selected to support this IB* topic.
Heat Engines
Experiment #2 from Advanced Physics with Vernier — Beyond Mechanics
In this experiment, you will
- Design and create a thermodynamic system consisting of a flask, tubing, syringe, and pressure sensor.
- Relate the terms isothermal, isochoric, isobaric and adiabatic to various thermodynamic processes, and how to move your thermodynamic system through these processes.
- Collect pressure, volume and temperature data for three of these processes.
- Analyze the various P–V processes to keep track of the work (W) done by or on the enclosed gas and the heat (Q) transferred between the gas and the surroundings.
- Use the first law of thermodynamics to account for the change in internal energy in each of these processes.
- Determine the total work done by enclosed gas in various thermodynamic cyclic processes.
- Educational Standard
- International Baccalaureate (IB) 2025
- Subject
- Physics
- Theme
- B The particulate nature of matter
- Topic
- B.4 Thermodynamics
- Level
- Additional higher level
* The IB Diploma Program is an official program of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) which authorizes schools to offer it. The material available here has been developed independently of the IBO and is not endorsed by it.