In this paper, a very simple and low-cost setup design is described for the Seebeck coefficient measurement of the disc and rod-shaped specimens. The setup has been tested for its reliable working by measuring the Seebeck coefficients of standard samples; measured values match with the literature. The setup can be built with commonly available raw…

This paper starts with an introduction to the concept of momentum current. It is followed by a discussion of its strength and density with the aid of several analogies made between momentum current and electric current. Based on the novel concepts of thermal charge and its quantity (entropy), the analogies are extended to entropy current. The…

Using the analogy between thermodynamics and electricity, two new concepts of thermal charge and quantity of thermal charge are introduced. A simple yet explicit definition of entropy is then derived-entropy is the quantity of thermal charge. As a result, quantity of thermal charge (entropy) and quantity of heat (energy) are now clearly…

Single slit diffraction and the thermal expansion of materials are common components of an undergraduate physics course, though these topics are often taught independently in both lectures and laboratory based courses. Higher levels of cognitive domains can be achieved by building on these established topics and combining them into a single…

This study focuses on the experimental demonstration of the definition of kelvin using a triple point of water (TPW) cell and estimates the measurement uncertainty. The first part of this article is to construct the measurement setup and perform the measurements. The second stage is related with the calculation of uncertainty according to guides…

Why do we need to pour less water in an egg steamer to prepare more eggs to the same degree of 'doneness'? We discuss the physical processes at work in the electric egg steamer and resolve this seeming paradox. We demonstrate that the main heat transfer mechanism from steam to egg is due to latent heat through condensation. This not only explains…

The article describes research work that can help students observe and experimentally research the effects caused by the emission component of the filament current in fluorescent lamps' cathodes. When analysing the work of electronic devices--multi-purpose lamps that use thermionic emission--research usually focuses on the current caused by the…

This work presents the design of an inexpensive electronic system to measure water temperature and generate an experimental data set used to verify the fitting between experimental and theoretical curves of a water-cooling process. The cooling constant is computed with three different theoretical methods to check their efficiency and this approach…

The distinction between pressure in a liquid and in a gas is often treated in a cursory way, or not treated at all, even in university level textbooks. Most texts fail to point out the relation between pressure and density in a gas as compared to pressure in a--virtually incompressible--liquid. In many instances this also results in a dismissive…

In this paper a well-known experiment is considered that is used to demonstrate some aspects of water boiling. It is shown that the currently popular explanation is wrong and a better explanation is proposed, backed up with experimental data. Variations of the experiment are proposed that can be used for a more in-depth examination of the…

We present a thermodynamics experiment suitable for first year undergraduate students employing Stirling Engines to create a demonstration of energy transformation and to measure the mechanical efficiency of such engines. Using an inexpensive transparent chambered Stirling Engine, students can connect concepts such as the theoretical…

The anomalous thermal expansion of water in the 0 °C-4 °C range is extremely important to life on Earth, but it is normally not presented experimentally in educational settings. This paper presents a simple experiment to explore the anomalous thermal expansion of water in the 0 °C-4 °C range and the heat exchange processes in natural bodies of…

Throughout the long history of astronomy, scientists have repeatedly written fictional stories, which often lend themselves to use in the classroom thanks to the authors' in-depth knowledge and an appealing storyline. This article uses the novel 'The Black Cloud', written by the well-known astronomer Fred Hoyle, to show which physical-astronomical…

In early January 2018, after days of subfreezing temperatures, a 20 m waterfall became mostly frozen with supercooled water pouring over the top of the frozen parts of the fall. A video was taken of the waterfalls and supercooled turbulent water flowing on the frozen surface as it turned into frazil ice right before our eyes. Frazil ice consists…

Heat transfer is a phenomenon well known from everyday life. It is intuitively connected to the properties of materials, that is, to the physics concept of thermal conductivity relevant for cooking or maintaining the constant temperature in rooms, even without being familiar to the underlying physics. However, measurement of thermal conductivity…