2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Thermo for Keeps
Abstract
Thermodynamics is often the most hated course in the mechanical engineering curriculum. Why? Because when you add up all the possible combinations of applied equations, they become overwhelming, with often subtle differences that are hard to remember. To counter this, four key principles become a foundation. If these are well understood, simple math operations on these may create the rest. These principles are: 1. Q = mC∆T, 2. Understanding latent heat, 3. Understanding P∆V work, and 4. Law of the turbine. Even the confusing difference between Internal Energy and Enthalpy can be relegated to a combination of #1 and #3. Teachers of thermodynamics should expect to see a significant increase in retention by first investing in these 4 principles. A method that uses percentages to teach interpolation is also discussed. Turning plug-and-chug engineers into conceptual engineers can be difficult, but the investment pays dividends.