Introduction to Thermodynamics: Transferring Energy from Here to There
COURSE DESCRIPTION This course provides an introduction to the most powerful engineering principles you will ever learn - Thermodynamics: the science of transferring energy from one place or form to another place or form. We will introduce the tools you need to analyze energy systems from solar panels, to engines, to insulated coffee mugs.
Monthly Subscription Starting at AED 99 + VAT
- Level Foundation
- Duration 16 hours
- Course by University of Michigan
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Offered by
About
COURSE DESCRIPTION This course provides an introduction to the most powerful engineering principles you will ever learn - Thermodynamics: the science of transferring energy from one place or form to another place or form. We will introduce the tools you need to analyze energy systems from solar panels, to engines, to insulated coffee mugs. More specifically, we will cover the topics of mass and energy conservation principles; first law analysis of control mass and control volume systems; properties and behavior of pure substances; and applications to thermodynamic systems operating at steady state conditions. COURSE FORMAT The class consists of lecture videos, which average 8 to 12 minutes in length. The videos include integrated In-Video Quiz questions. There are also quizzes at the end of each section, which include problems to practice your analytical skills that are not part of video lectures. There are no exams. GRADING POLICY Each question is worth 1 point. A correct answer is worth +1 point. An incorrect answer is worth 0 points. There is no partial credit. You can attempt each quiz up to three times every 8 hours, with an unlimited number of total attempts. The number of questions that need to be answered correctly to pass are displayed at the beginning of each quiz. Following the Mastery Learning model, students must pass all 8 practice quizzes with a score of 80% or higher in order to complete the course. ESTIMATED WORKLOAD If you follow the suggested deadlines, lectures and quizzes will each take approximately ~3 hours per week each, for a total of ~6 hours per week. TARGET AUDIENCE Basic undergraduate engineering or science student. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - What are the prerequisites for taking this course? An introductory background (high school or first year college level) in chemistry, physics, and calculus will help you be successful in this class. -What will this class prepare me for in the academic world? Thermodynamics is a prerequisite for many follow-on courses, like heat transfer, internal combustion engines, propulsion, and gas dynamics, to name a few. -What will this class prepare me for in the real world? Energy is one of the top challenges we face as a global society. Energy demands are deeply tied to the other major challenges of clean water, health, food resources, and poverty. Understanding how energy systems work is key to understanding how to meet all these needs around the world. Because energy demands are only increasing, this course also provides the foundation for many rewarding professional careers.Modules
Introduction to the Course
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6
Videos
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2
Readings
6
Videos
- 01.01 - Welcome and Introduction to the Course
- 01.02 - Drivers for Changing the Way We Use Energy
- 01.03 - The Units of Energy and Power and the Sectors of Energy Supply and Demand
- 01.04 - Defining Open and Closed Systems
- 01.05 - Thermodynamic Properties
- 01.06 - Conservation of Energy for Closed Systems
2
Readings
- Syllabus
- Help us learn more about you!
Assignment
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Week 1
Work and Heat Transfer, Phase Diagrams, the Conservation of Energy for Closed Systems
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6
Videos
6
Videos
- 02.01 - Work Transfer Mechanisms
- 02.02 - Example: the Work Required to Compress Air
- 02.03 - The First Law of Thermodynamics for a Closed System
- 02.04 - Heat Transfer
- 02.05 - Phase Diagrams
- 02.06 - 2D Phase Diagrams
Assignment
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Week 2
Thermodynamic Properties, State Relations, the Ideal Gas Model, the Incompressible Substance model, Conservation of Mass for Open Systems
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6
Videos
6
Videos
- 03.01 - Thermodynamic Properties and the Saturation Region
- 03.02 - Internal Energy, Enthalpy, and the Specific Heats
- 03.03 - The Incompressible Substance and the Ideal Gas Models for Equations of State
- 03.04 - More Outcomes of the Ideal Gas Model
- 03.05 - Conservation of Mass for Open Systems
- 03.06 - Steam Turbine Example - Part 1
Assignment
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Week 3
Conservation of Energy for Open Systems, Flow Work, Flow Devices and Examples
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6
Videos
6
Videos
- 04.01 - Flow Work and the Conservation of Energy
- 04.02 - Steady State, Steady Flow Devices
- 04.03 - Another Example: Compressing Water
- 04.04 - Steam Turbine Example - Part 2
- 04.05 - Example of Cooling a Microprocessor - Starting the Analysis
- 04.06 - Steam Tables Discussion
Assignment
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Week 4
Transient Analysis and the Conservation of Mass and Energy; Power, Refrigeration and Heat Pump Cycles
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5
Videos
5
Videos
- 05.01 - Example of Cooling a Microprocessor - Finishing the Analysis
- 05.02 - Transient Analysis - Setting Up the Governing Equations
- 05.03 - Transient Analysis - Reformulating the Problem
- 05.04 - Cycle Analysis - Power Cycles
- 05.05 - Refrigeration and Heat Pump Cycles
Assignment
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Week 5
The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, Carnot and Rankine Power Cycles
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6
Videos
6
Videos
- 06.01 - A Conceptual Introduction to the Second Law of Thermodynamics
- 06.02 - The Carnot Cycle
- 06.03 - The Rankine Power Plant
- 06.04 - A Brief Introduction to Ideal Performance and Entropy
- 06.05 - More Advanced Methods to Increase the Efficiency of Rankine Power Plants
- 06.06 - More Discussion on the Concepts and Theory of the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics
Assignment
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Week 6
Carnot and Rankine Cycles Continued, Co-generation and Waste Heat Recovery
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6
Videos
6
Videos
- 07.01 - Example of Analysis of a Rankine Power Plant - Part 1: Assigning the State Information (or Pin the Tail on the Donkey)
- 07.02 - Example of Analysis of a Rankine Power Plant - Part 2: Finding ALL the State Information
- 07.03 - Example of Analysis of a Rankine Power Plant - Part 3: Putting it all Together, Cycle Analysis
- 07.04 - Example of Analysis of a Rankine Power Plant - Part 4: What the Results Tell Us
- 07.05 - How we can Dramatically Improve Thermal Efficiencies - An Introduction to Waste Heat Recovery
- 07.06 - Let's Look Inside a Jet Engine
Assignment
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Week 7
Comparing Energy Carriers
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6
Videos
6
Videos
- 08.01 - Air Standard Power Cycles - The Brayton Cycle
- 08.02 - More Waste Heat Recovery - Combined Cycles
- 08.03 - Carbon Reserves and Global Warming
- 08.04 -Energy Carriers
- 08.05 - Setting the Bar for Performance
- 08.06 -The Hardware of Our Internal Combustion Engines
Assignment
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2
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Week 8
2
Readings
- Post-course Survey
- Keep Learning with Michigan Online
Auto Summary
"Introduction to Thermodynamics: Transferring Energy from Here to There" is a foundational course in Science & Engineering, taught by expert instructors on Coursera. It covers key principles like mass and energy conservation, first law analysis, and properties of pure substances. Ideal for undergraduate engineering or science students, the course features engaging video lectures, quizzes, and no exams, with an estimated workload of 6 hours per week over 960 minutes. Subscription options include Starter and Professional plans. This course equips learners with essential skills for advanced studies and careers in energy systems.
Margaret Wooldridge, Ph.D.