Meteo 431 – Atmospheric Thermodynamics
Study guide for the midterm exam on 27 February

 

If you know all the concepts in the list below, you should be able to do well on the midterm exam.  The midterm will require some explanations, some few-step problem solving, and some definitions.  Be sure to review your quizzes and your homework problems.  You should memorize the following items in bold letters.

  1. Newton's Second Law: F= ma = m dv/dt
  2. Energy and work: concepts, relation to force, and units.
  3. Working and heating: concepts, relation to power, similarities and differences between working and heating.
  4. The equation for working: W = - p dV/dt.
  5. The First Law of Thermodynamics: concept and equation (including the meaning of each term). dU/dt= Q + W
  6. The definition of temperature: concept and equation. 1/3<mv2> = kT
  7. Ideal gas law: equation in two forms. pV = NkT and p = r RT.
  8. The concept of flux and of pressure as a momentum flux.
  9. Temperature scales: Fahrenheit, Celsius, and Kelvin.
  10. Variation with height of atmospheric temperature, pressure, and density.
  11. Atmospheric scale height: concept and equation. H=kT/mg
  12. The Maxwell Boltzmann distribution: concept and general equation. N/No = exp(-energy/kt)
  13. Dalton's Law: concept and equation. p = p1 + p2 + p3 ...
  14. Heat capacity at constant volume and heat capacity at constant pressure: concepts and equations. Cv = dU/dT, and Cp = dH/dT
  15. Enthalpy: concept and equation. H=U+pV
  16. The relationship between heat capacity at constant pressure and heat capacity at constant volume.
  17. Adiabatic processes: concept and use.
  18. Poisson's relations: equations and how to use them.
  19. Dry adiabatic lapse rate.
  20. Stability and buoyancy: concepts and relation to lapse rate.
  21. Mixing of parcels: temperature and water vapor in the mixed parcel.
  22. Entropy: concept and equation. dS/dt = Q/T (in process for which W=-pdV/dt and DS = 0)
  23. Reversible and irreversible processes: concepts and examples.
  24. The Second Law of Thermodynamics.
  25. Potential temperature: concept and equation. Q = T (po/p) (g -1)/g
  26. Relationship between potential temperature and stability.