NCERT Class 11 Physics Chapter 11 Notes Thermal Properties of Matter - Download PDF

Have you ever wondered how a thermometer determines your body temperature, why ice melts, or why metals feel colder than wood? Class 11 Physics Chapter 11: Thermal Properties of Matter provides a beautiful explanation of all these everyday phenomena. This chapter explains the effects of heat on solids, liquids, and gases as well as how variations in temperature lead to physical changes in matter. These NCERT notes for Class 11 Physics is prepared by subject matter experts in accordance with the most recent CBSE syllabus, and they are excellent for tests like the CBSE, JEE, and NEET.

In these NCERT notes for class 11 physics, you will explore important topics like heat transfer (conduction, convection, and radiation), specific and latent heat, Newton’s law of cooling, and thermal expansion etc. You will also find important formulas, simple explanations and relatable examples to make learning easier. Whether you are revising for boards or competitive exams, these NCERT notes for class 11 are very helpful for quick and effective understanding.

This Story also Contains

1. NCERT Notes for Class 11 Physics Chapter 10: Download PDF
2. NCERT Notes for Class 11 Physics Chapter 10
3. NCERT Class 12 Notes Chapter-Wise

Also Read

• NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics Chapter 10 Thermal Properties of Matter
• NCERT Exemplar for Class 11 Physics Solutions Chapter 10 Thermal Properties of Matter

NCERT Notes for Class 11 Physics Chapter 10: Download PDF

Click on the button below to download the PDF version of the NCERT Notes of Class 11 Physics Chapter 10: Thermal Properties of Matter. These notes are ideal for quick reference and easy revision, suitable for study on the go.

Download PDF

NCERT Notes for Class 11 Physics Chapter 10

The NCERT Notes for Thermal Properties of Matter gives a brief description of all the topics covered in the chapter. Using these notes, students can revise for their exams as well as test their knowledge by reviewing the important concepts.

Temperature and Heat

Temperature is the measurement of a body's degree of hotness or coolness.
Example:-A cup of hot soup or an ice cream scoop

Heat is a kind of energy that is exchanged via temperature difference between two (or more) systems or between a system and its surroundings.
For example, a cup of hot coffee might be regarded an object or system, whereas everything else is the environment.

As a result of the temperature difference, heat will move from one thing to another.

The SI unit of Heat is joule.

Measurement of Temperature

A thermometer is used to determine the temperature.
In, liquid-in-glass thermometers, mercury and alcohol are regularly used liquids.
The following graph depicts the relationship between temperature in Celsius and Fahrenheit graphically:-

$(t_{\mathrm{f}}-32)/180=t_{\mathrm{c}}/100$

Where t_f means Fahrenheit temperature

t_c means Celsius temperature

Absolute Temperature and the Ideal Gas Equation

A thermometer that employs any gas, on the other hand, will produce the same readings regardless of the gas used since all gases expand at the same rate at low temperatures.

The following variables are used to characterise the behaviour of gas:

• Quantity(mass)

• Pressure

• Volume

• Temperature

Gases with a low density obey the following rules: -

1. Boyle’s Law– In this law, the product of PV = constant(when temperature T is constant)

2. Charles’ Law- In this law, the ratio of V/T = constant (when pressure P is constant)

When both of the preceding principles are combined, the equation becomes PV = RT, where R stands for universal gas constant.

Absolute Zero

The minimal absolute temperature of an ideal gas is defined as Absolute Zero.
We get a straight line if we plot pressure versus temperature and then extend the line backwards to the x-axis, as seen in the graph below.

The lowest temperature measured (experimentally) was -273.15 °C, which is known as absolute zero.

The relationship between temperature in Kelvin and temperature in Celsius is provided by

$\mathbf{T}={\mathbf{t}}_c+273.15$

Thermal Expansion

Thermal expansion is the phenomenon of a body's dimensions expanding as its temperature rises.

Thermal Expansion Types

Expansion in length is known as linear expansion.

Expansion in the area is known as area expansion.

Volume Expansion: This is a term that refers to the increase in volume of anything.

Linear Expansion

The term "linear expansion" refers to the length of anything expanding as the temperature rises.

The term "linear expansion" refers to a fractional change in length or how the length changes in relation to the original length.

$\mathrm{\Delta }L/L={\alpha }_L\mathrm{\Delta }T$

ΔL is the length change, L is the initial length, ΔT is the temperature change, and α_L is the linear coefficient of thermal expansion.

Area Expansion

The term "area expansion" refers to the expansion of an area as a result of an increase in temperature.

There is an increase in both length and width when an area is expanded.

$\mathrm{\Delta }\mathbf{A}/\mathbf{A}={\alpha }_{\mathrm{a}}\mathrm{\Delta }\mathbf{T}$

Where α_a = coefficient of area expansion.

Volume Expansion

It is defined as the expansion of volume as a result of an increase in temperature.

This indicates that a substance's length, width, and height have increased.

$\mathrm{\Delta }V/V={\alpha }_v\mathrm{\Delta }T$

Where α_v = coefficient of volume expansion.

Anomalous Behaviour of Water

At 4 °C, water has the highest density.

When the temperature drops below 4 °C, the water expands, and the density falls.

Because of this feature, water in lakes and ponds only freezes at the top layer and not at the bottom, but if the water freezes at the bottom as well, animal and plant life would be unable to survive.

Specific heat capacity:

Heat Capacity

A quantity termed the heat capacity of a substance characterises the change in temperature of a substance when a particular amount of heat is absorbed or rejected by that substance.

$S=\mathrm{\Delta }Q/\mathrm{\Delta }T$

Where ΔQ is the amount of heat supplied to the substance and ΔT change in its temperature.

Specific heat is the amount of heat received or rejected per unit mass by a substance to change its temperature by one degree.

$\mathbf{s}=\mathbf{S}/\mathbf{m}$

Molar specific heat capacity: -

The heat capacity per mole is the amount of heat (in moles) absorbed or rejected by a substance to change its temperature by one unit.

$C=S/\mu =\mathrm{\Delta }Q/\mu \mathrm{\Delta }T$

The molar specific heat capacity (C_p) is defined as follows:

The equivalent molar specific heat capacity at constant pressure is called molar specific heat capacity at constant pressure if the gas is retained at constant pressure during the heat transfer (C_p).

Molar specific heat capacity (C_v):-

The equivalent molar specific heat capacity at constant volume is called molar specific heat capacity at constant volume if the volume of the gas is maintained during the heat transfer (Cv).

Calorimetry

The word calorimetry comes from two parts:

• Calorie, which means "heat"

• Metry which means "measuring"

So, calorimetry is the process of measuring heat.

It involves the transfer of heat from a hotter body to a cooler body, while making sure that no heat is lost to the surroundings.

The basic idea behind calorimetry is that the heat lost by one body is equal to the heat gained by another. The device used to measure this heat transfer is called a calorimeter.

Change of State

A change of state is when a substance transitions from one form (solid, liquid, or gas) to another. For example:

• Melting is when a solid (like ice) turns into a liquid (like water).

• Fusion is the process where a liquid (like water) turns into a solid (like ice).

Thermal Equilibrium

In thermal equilibrium, there’s no heat gain or loss. The melting point of a substance is the temperature at which its solid and liquid states are in balance (equilibrium).

• Normal Melting Point: This is the temperature at which a substance melts under standard atmospheric pressure.

Regelation

Regelation is the process where pressure lowers the freezing point of water, allowing ice to melt under pressure and refreeze when the pressure is reduced.

Vaporization

Vaporization is the process in which a liquid changes into a gas (for example, water turning into steam).

Sublimation

Sublimation is when a solid directly turns into a gas without becoming a liquid first. During sublimation, both the solid and gas forms exist in thermal equilibrium.

Latent Heat

Latent heat is the amount of heat energy required to change the state of a substance without changing its temperature. For example, during melting or boiling, a substance absorbs or releases heat but its temperature stays constant. There are two main types: latent heat of fusion (solid to liquid) and latent heat of vaporization (liquid to gas). This concept helps explain why ice melts or water boils at specific temperatures.

Heat Transfer

Heat transfer refers to the process by which thermal energy moves from a body at a higher temperature to one at a lower temperature. This transfer can occur in three primary ways:

• Conduction – Transfer of heat through direct contact, mainly in solids. For example, a metal rod getting hot when one end is placed in a flame.
• Convection – Transfer of heat through the movement of fluids (liquids or gases). Warm fluids rise and cooler fluids sink, creating a convection current. For instance, boiling water in a pot.
• Radiation – Transfer of heat without a medium, in the form of electromagnetic waves. This is how the Sun heats the Earth.

Newton's Law of Cooling

Newton's Law of Cooling states that the rate at which a hot object cools down is directly proportional to the difference in temperature between the object and its surroundings, provided this difference is small. In simple words, the hotter the object compared to its surroundings, the faster it loses heat.

$\frac{dT}{dt}=-k(T-T_{\text{surrounding }})$

Where:

• $\frac{dT}{dt}$ is the rate of change of temperature,
• $T$ is the temperature of the object,
• $T_{\text{surrounding }}$ is the surrounding temperature,
• $k$ is a constant depending on the nature of the object and the surrounding.

NCERT Class 12 Notes Chapter-Wise

Subject Wise NCERT Exemplar Solutions

• NCERT Exemplar Class 11 Solutions
• NCERT Exemplar Class 11 Maths
• NCERT Exemplar Class 11 Physics
• NCERT Exemplar Class 11 Chemistry
• NCERT Exemplar Class 11 Biology

Subject Wise NCERT Solutions

• NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Mathematics
• NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Chemistry
• NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Physics
• NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Biology

NCERT Books and Syllabus