Fundamental Thermodynamics
This fundamental law is essentially a conservation of energy equation.
The 1st Law of Thermodynamics
Write the first law of thermodynamics for an open system. (100)
Explain the terms "isolated system", "adiabatic system", and "closed system" with respect to the first law. (150)
U is a state function, but what defines a state function? Identify which variables in the 1st law are state variables and which are not. (200)
This law, the basis for XRD, gives the angles for coherent and incoherent scattering from a crystal lattice.
Bragg's Law
Write Bragg's Law (100)
Draw a diagram illustrating Bragg's Law (300)
What factor determines the sharpness of XRD peaks? (100)
Name two limitations of the XRD technique (100)
The hypothetical energy level of an electron, such that at thermodynamic equilibrium this level would have a 50% chance of being occupied at any given time.
Fermi Level.
Describe the difference between the Fermi Level and the Fermi Energy (100)
Draw a diagram for a metal, semiconductor, and insulator indicating the positions of the Fermi energy, band gap, and valence/conduction bands for each (300)
What defines a n-type semiconductor vs. a p-type? (50)
The variable that the energy of light is dependent on.
Wavelength/frequency
Write the formula for the energy of a photon, defining all quantities to at least 2 decimal places. (100)
List the types of light in order from largest wavelength to smallest. (100)
Draw a diagram illustrating Compton scattering. (100)
The crystalline structure of NaCl
FCC
What type of bonding is prominent in this structure? (50)
What is the coordination number of each atom in this lattice? (100)
What is the close packed plane for this structure? (50)
This equation/relation encapsulates the 2nd law of thermodynamics.
dipS > 0 or dS = dQrev/T
Define entropy using words. (200)
Provide the statistical mechanics equation definition for entropy. (100)
Write the combined 1st and 2nd laws, aka the most important equation in thermodynamics. (200)
This microscopy technique has a lower resolution limit of ~1 nm.
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
Explain the difference between secondary electrons (SE) and backscattered electrons (BSE). (100)
When analyzing BSE, _____ elements will appear brighter. (50)
What are two common metals used to coat samples that are not conductive for imaging? (100)
This plot would be a result from a tensile test, for instance.
A stress-strain curve.
What are the units and symbols for stress and strain (100)?
Draw a stress-strain curve for a brittle, strong but not ductile, ductile, and plastic material. (200)
Define Young's Modulus. (50)
The amount of energy needed to remove an electron from a solid to a point in vacuum immediately outside the solid surface.
Work Function
Write the equation for the work function. (100)
Draw the atomic-level process by which XPS functions. (200)
Bond strengths of ~0.08-0.32 eV/atom (4-30 kJ/atom) are associated with this type of bonding.
Van der Waals bonds
Give an example material for each of the 5 primary types of bonding (ionic, covalent, metallic, Van der Waals, and hydrogen). (100)
Rank the strength of each of these bond types (strongest to weakest). (100)
This thermodynamic function can be used to calculate the maximum of reversible work at constant temperature and pressure.
Gibbs Free Energy
Write the differential Gibbs Free Energy function, G(T, P, N). (100)
Explain the significance of dG < 0, dG > 0, dG = 0 in terms of equilibrium. (150)
This type of microscopy involves passing electrons through a sample instead of reflecting them off of a sample.
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)
How thin does a sample need to be for TEM analysis? (100)
Why does this technique have a much lower resolution limit than a conventional light microscope? (100)
Describe the difference between the imaging and diffraction modes of the TEM. (200)
The point above which a polymer transitions from behaving like a glass to behaving like a viscous rubber.
Glass transition temperature
Why is the thermal expansion coefficient abnormally low in SiO2? (100)
From the German words for "braking" and "radiation", this phenomenon involves the slowing of a charged particle.
Bremsstrahlung
Draw a figure illustrating the bremsstrahlung process. (100)
Explain how this process satisfies the conservation of energy principle. (100)
This type of electrochemical cell derives electrical energy from spontaneous redox reactions.
Galvanic Cell
What defines the cathode and anode of an electrochemical cell? (50)
During a recharge cycle of a battery, is the cathode the positive electrode or the negative electrode? (50)
Draw an electrochemical cell with a Zn electrode in ZnSO4-based electrolyte connected via a salt bridge to a CuSO4-based electrolyte with a Cu electrode. Indicate the reactions at each electrode as well as the direction of the flow of electrons/ions? (300)
This rule is given by: v = c+2-p.
Gibbs Phase Rule
Identify all of the variables in this rule. (150)
This technique measures amounts of individual chemical species by ionizing a sample and sorting the components by their mass-to-charge ratios.
Mass Spectrometry
Draw a diagram of a mass spectrometer, indicate the primary parts and how two ions with different mass-to-charge ratios might behave. (300)
Write the force balance equation that governs an ion's motion in a mass spectrometer. (200)
This quantity represents the magnetic strength and orientation of a magnet or object that produces a magnetic field.
Magnetic moment.
Draw 6 electron spins that would describe a ferromagnet, antiferromagnet, ferrimagnet, and paramagnet. (200)
Draw how dipoles would be oriented with H=0 and H>0 for paramagnetism vs. diamagnetism. (200)
The production of a voltage difference across an electrical conductor transverse to an electrical current in the conductor and to a magnetic field perpendicular to the current.
The Hall Effect
Draw a diagram illustrating the Hall Effect with the current, voltage, and magnetic field clearly indicated. (150)
Write the force balance equation describing this effect. (100)
The name for a single repeat unit in a polymer.
A monomer.
What are the two ways to describe the average molar mass of a polymer? (100)
Draw the difference between linear, branched, cross-linked, and network polymers. (200)
This equation describes relationships in changes of chemical potential for components in a thermodynamic system.
Gibbs-Duhem equation.
Write the Gibbs-Duhem equation. (100)
Define chemical potential. (100)
The key to the Gibbs-Duhem relation is that it means that fixing potentials constrains _____ than fixing molar quantities. (50)
This technique, abbreviated FTIR, is used to obtain absorption/emission spectra for materials.
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
What wavelengths does the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum cover (within 1000 cm-1)? (100)
Write the formula for a Fourier transform of a generic function, f(x). (300)
What is the advantage of using attenuated total reflectance FTIR? (100)
Vacancies and interstitials are the two types of what kind of defect.
Point Defects
Write the Kroger-Vink notation for a Frenkel defect on the Ag site in AgI. (300)
What are the two best-known types of line defects? (100)
What is the orientation of the Berger's vector with respect to the dislocation line in both types of line defects? (100)
This equation describes a system that evolves over time in which quantum effects are significant.
Schrodinger's Equation
Write the time-independent Schrodinger Equation. (100)
Write the time-dependent Schrodinger Equation. (100)
Write Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle and explain its significance. (100)
The time you should start preparing for candidacy.
Now! If you haven't already.
What should you do if you don't know the answer to a question during your talk? (100)
How many times should you present your talk to fellow graduate students before the actual talk minimum? (100)