Thermal Dynamics in Refrigeration and AC Systems

Study Notes

Free-falling objects do not experience air resistance.
Acceleration due to gravity on Earth is approximately 9.8 m/s², often rounded to 10 m/s² for simplicity.

Centrifugal Force attempts to make objects move away from the center of a circular path.
Centripetal Force is required to keep an object moving in a curve.
Objects will continue in a straight line unless acted upon by an opposing force, per Newton's First Law.
Newton's Third Law states every action has an equal and opposite reaction, leading to tension in the string and centrifugal effects.
If a string breaks, an object will move in a straight line tangent to its circular path.

Periodic motion refers to repeated motions occurring over time, such as pendulum swinging.
A simple pendulum consists of a mass attached to a string, with gravity acting as the restoring force proportional to the amplitude of oscillation.
Vibration describes high-frequency periodic motion and can result in structural damage in aircraft.

Inertia is the resistance of an object to changes in its state of motion.
Momentum (p) is the product of mass (m) and velocity (v), calculated as p = mv.
Angular momentum (L) is defined as L = mω, where ω is angular velocity in rpm.
Applying force for a specific time results in an impulse (I = Ft), changing an object's momentum.

A gyroscope maintains its plane of rotation due to gyroscopic inertia (rigidity in space).
Precession occurs when an external force disrupts the gyroscope's rotation, causing its plane to deflect.

Latent heat of fusion is the energy needed to change a solid to a liquid and vice versa.
Latent heat of vaporization refers to the energy required to convert a liquid into vapor.
Thermal energy is transferable and plays a role in various energy conversions, including combustion.

Visible light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum, comprising wavelengths between 400 nm (blue) and 700 nm (red).
The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately 3 x 10⁸ m/s.
Reflection occurs when light bounces off a surface, and angles of incidence and reflection are equal.
Refraction occurs when light waves pass through different media, altering their speed and direction.

Lenses can be converging (convex) or diverging (concave), with their focal length determining the distance where light rays converge.
Total Internal Reflection is essential in fiber optics, allowing light to travel through thin strands of glass by being completely reflected.

Sound is produced by vibrating sources, traveling as pressure waves through various media.
Speed of sound is influenced by temperature, traveling fastest in solids, then liquids, and slowest in gases.
Normal atmospheric conditions see sound traveling at approximately 340 m/s; this speed varies with air pressure and temperature.
Sound intensity is related to wave amplitude and is measured in decibels (dB), with 120 dB being the threshold of pain, risking ear damage with prolonged exposure.