3c Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics

Page 1 of 5 SPH 2202 – Thermal Physics I Lecture notes
The zeroth (0th) law of thermodynamics (contd.)

The thermometric function and the fixed-point temperature
 The magnitude of change in a thermometric property (𝑋) with change in temperature (𝜃)
is used as a measure of temperature.
Relationship between them - mostly linear (𝑋 changes by a fixed amount on every unit
change in 𝜃) and expressed by the thermometric function,
𝜃(𝑋) = 𝑎 ∙ 𝑋 ---------------------------------------1
Where, a is a constant.
 For a given a thermometric substance there exists a temperature 𝜃 at which a certain

physical process takes place (the value of the thermometric property 𝑋 is known).
For instance, under specific conditions the temperature at which, water boils or ice melts,
is well known – at standard atmospheric pressure, water boils at 100 °C and ice melts at 0
°C.
Therefore, since at temperature 𝜃 the value of the thermometric property 𝑋 is known, the
value of constant 𝑎 in eq. 1 can be computed by,
𝜃(𝑋𝐹 )
𝑎=
𝑋𝐹
---------------------------------------2
Where, 𝜃(𝑋𝐹 ) ≡ fixed-point temperature (or simply, fixed-point) and 𝑋𝐹 is the value of
the thermometric property at the fixed-point.
Fixed-point → the temperature at which a certain physical process takes place (e.g. water
boils at 100 °C).
With the value of 𝑎 known, the value of temperature (𝜃) at any other magnitude of the
thermometric property (𝑋) can be determined. Thus,
𝜃(𝑋𝐹 )
𝜃(𝑋) = ∙ 𝑋 ---------------------------------------3
𝑋𝐹
or
𝑋
𝜃(𝑋) = 𝜃(𝑋𝐹 ) ∙
𝑋𝐹
---------------------------------------4
 Suitable fixed-points include:

- Ice point (also freezing point): the temperature at which pure ice co-exists in
equilibrium with pure water at standard atmospheric pressure.
- Steam point: the temperature at which pure water co-exists in equilibrium with steam
at standard atmospheric pressure.
NB: Supplement your learning from the lecture and lecture notes by independent study and discussions.
- Triple point: the temperature at which pure ice, pure water and pure water vapor co-
exist in equilibrium.
 Fixed-points are used in the establishment of a temperature scale → a system for

measuring temperature.
Temperature scales
 There are several temperature scales. They vary in the fixed-points used. The common
ones are:
i. The thermodynamic temperature scale

- It uses the triple point of water as the only fixed-point.
- It is measured in kelvins (K). Hence, also referred to as the Kelvin temperature scale.
- It is assigned a value of 273.16 K.
- The thermometric function for this temperature is, therefore,
𝑋
𝜃(𝑋) = 273.16 𝐾 ∙
𝑋𝑡𝑟
Where, 𝑋𝑡𝑟 is the value of 𝑋 at the triple point of water.
ii. The Celsius temperature scale

- It uses the freezing and boiling points of water as the two fixed-points.
- The freezing and boiling points of water correspond to 273.15 K and 373.15 K
respectively in the Kelvin scale.
- 273.15 K ≡ 0 °C on the Celsius temperature scale and 373.15 K ≡ 100 °C on the
Celsius temperature scale.
Therefore, given the temperature of a system on the Kelvin scale (𝜃𝐾 ), its equivalent
temperature on the Celsius scale (𝜃𝐶 ) is given by,
𝜃𝐶 = 𝜃𝐾 − 273.15
iii. The Fahrenheit temperature scale

- It is defined in terms of the Celsius scale so that a temperature on the Fahrenheit scale
is given by,
9
𝜃𝐹 = 32 + ∙ 𝜃𝐶
5
Where, 𝜃𝐹 is the temperature on the Fahrenheit temperature scale in degree Fahrenheit
(°F) and 𝜃𝐶 is the temperature on the Celsius temperature scale in degree Celsius (°C).
NB: By using the triple point of water as the only fixed point, the thermodynamic
temperature scale removes inconsistencies that may arise due to the availability of
various other suitable fixed points. It is, therefore, the standard temperature scale that
is internationally adopted for scientific measurements.
Establishing a temperature scale – illustrative example using the Celsius temperature

scale.
- In order to establish a Celsius temperature scale:
o The temperature-measuring instrument is placed into an ice-water bath at 0 °C. It is
allowed to come into thermal equilibrium with the bath and the measurement on it
(variation of the thermometric property with temperature) is marked 𝑦0
o The instrument is then placed into a steam-water bath at 100 °C. It is allowed to
come into thermal equilibrium with the bath and the measurement on it is marked
𝑦100 .
o The space between 𝑦0 and 𝑦100 is then divided into 100 equal divisions so that one
division represents 1 °C.
o In order to determine the numeric value of a temperature measurement:
i. A linearity is imposed on the scale so that,
𝑑𝑦 𝑦100 − 𝑦0
= = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝑑𝑇 100 − 0
Where, 𝑦 is the measured thermometric property and 𝑇 is temperature.
Thus,
𝑦100 − 𝑦0
𝑑𝑦 = ( ) 𝑑𝑇 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
100
ii. The instrument is placed into a system whose temperature is to be measured,
allowed to come to thermal equilibrium and the measurement on it is marked
𝑦.
iii. Starting at the fixed-point 𝑦0 and integrating to 𝑦 gives,
𝑦 𝑇
𝑦100 − 𝑦0
∫ 𝑑𝑦 = ∫ 𝑑𝑇
𝑦0 0 100
iv. On integrating,
𝑦100 − 𝑦0 𝑦100 − 𝑦0 𝑦100 − 𝑦0
𝑦 − 𝑦0 = ( )𝑇 − ( )0 = ( )𝑇
100 100 100
𝑦100 − 𝑦0
𝑦 − 𝑦0 = ( )𝑇
100
Thus, the temperature of the system in °C is,
𝑦 − 𝑦0
𝑇=( ) 100
𝑦100 − 𝑦0
Illustrative examples
1. A platinum resistance thermometer has a resistance R of 90.35 Ω when its bulb is
placed in a triple point cell. Determine the temperature when the bulb is placed in
an environment where its resistance is 96.28 Ω?
Solution:
𝑋
𝜃(𝑋) = 273.16 𝐾 ∙
𝑋𝑡𝑟
𝑅 96.28 Ω
𝑇 = 273.16 𝐾 ∙ = 273.16 𝐾 × = 291.1 𝐾
𝑅𝑡𝑟 90.35 Ω
2. Using a constant-volume gas thermometer, a gas pressure of 40 cm-Hg is measured

at the triple point of water i.e. 273.16 K. If the pressure is 65 cm-Hg at an unknown
temperature θ on the thermodynamic scale, determine θ.
Solution:
p 65
 (X )=  273.16 K   273.16  443.89 K
p tr 40
3. Determine the equivalent of 300 K in the Celsius temperature scale.

Solution: 𝜃𝐶 = 𝜃𝐾 − 273.15 = 300 − 273.15 = 26.85 °𝐶
4. The length of mercury in a mercury-in-glass thermometer is 5 cm and 25 cm when

placed in pure ice and steam respectively. If its length is 16 cm, determine the
corresponding temperature.
Solution:
Thermometric property 𝑦 ≡ length of mercury, 𝑙.
Length of mercury column at freezing point, 𝑙0
Length of mercury column at steam point, 𝑙100
Temperature at an arbitrary length 𝑙 is therefore,
𝑙 − 𝑙0 16 − 5
𝑇=( ) 100 = ( ) 100 = 55 °𝐶
𝑙100 − 𝑙0 25 − 5
5. Given that, the temperature of a normal human body is 98.6 °F. Determine its
equivalent in the Celsius scale.
Solution:
5 5
𝜃𝐶 = ∙ (𝜃𝐹 − 32) = ∙ (98.6 − 32) = 37°𝐶
9 9

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Page 1 of 5 SPH 2202 – Thermal Physics I Lecture notes

The zeroth (0th) law of thermodynamics (contd.)

 For a given a thermometric substance there exists a temperature 𝜃 at which a certain

 Suitable fixed-points include:

 Fixed-points are used in the establishment of a temperature scale → a system for

i. The thermodynamic temperature scale

Where, 𝑋𝑡𝑟 is the value of 𝑋 at the triple point of water.

ii. The Celsius temperature scale

iii. The Fahrenheit temperature scale

Establishing a temperature scale – illustrative example using the Celsius temperature

2. Using a constant-volume gas thermometer, a gas pressure of 40 cm-Hg is measured

3. Determine the equivalent of 300 K in the Celsius temperature scale.

4. The length of mercury in a mercury-in-glass thermometer is 5 cm and 25 cm when

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