Solution to Assignment Questions

Solution to Assignment questions

JIF 314 Thermodynamics

Based on the text book

Heat and thermodynamics by Zemansky and Dittman, 7th edition, Mcgraw-Hill.

Chapter 1

Problem 1.1. Solve using Excel.

First, calculate the value of the gas:.

 vs. PTP is a straight line in the form of y = mx + c, where y  , x PTP. The value of  when PTP becomes zero is the value of the temperature of the gas. This value is simply the value of intersection, c, in the formula of the straight line in the form of y = mx + c.

From the formula of the straight line generated by Excell, the intersection of the straight line is c = 419.57 in the graph of .

Hence, the temperature of the gas in the bulb is  = 419.57 K.

Problem 1.3.

(a) The temperature with resistance measured to be 1000 can be calculated using the relationship between R and T, as per

.

Setting R = 1000 ,

Hence, the temperature of the helium cryostat is 1.44 K.

(b) Use Excell. Plot log R vs. log T graph by forming the following table:

Problem 1.9: (5 significant figures).

Chapter 2

Problem 2.1

(a) Given the equation of state for a ideal gas PV = n RT, show that.

Solution:

Given equation of state for a ideal gas

PV = n RT, Eq. (1)

and the definition of volume expansivity , it is easily verified that  = 1/T by taking the partial derivate of Eq. (1) with respect to T:

Eq. (2)

Inserting PV = nRT into Eq. (2), we arrive at

Hence, =.

(b) Show that the isothermal compressivility  = 1/P.

Solution

Given equation of state for a ideal gas

PV = n RT, Eq. (1)

and the definition of isothermal compressibility , it is easily verified that  = 1/P by taking the partial derivate of Eq. (1) with respect to P:

Eq. (2)

Inserting PV = nRT into Eq. (2), we arrive at

Hence, .

Problem 2.2: Given the equation of state of a van der Waals gas, , calculate

(a) , (b) .

Solution:

(a) Taking the partial derivative with respect to v, with constant T,

(b) Taking the partial derivative with respect to T, with constant v,

(c)

Problem 3.2

(a) Show that the work done by an ideal gas during the quasi-static, isothermal expansion from an initial pressure Pi to a final pressure Pf, is given by W = nRT ln (Pf /Pi).

Solution:

For isothermal process, PiVi = PfVf. Hence Vi /Vf = Pf /Pi. Substitute this into

W = -nRT ln (Vf /Vi ), we get W = -nRT ln (Pi /Pf )= nRT ln (Pf /Pi).

Problem 3.3

An adiabatic chamber with rigid walls consists of two compartments, one containing a gas and the other evacuated; the partition between the two compartments is suddenly removed. Is the work done during an infinitesimal portion of this process (called an adiabatic expansion) equal PdV ?

Answer: NO. Because there is no work done against the expansion of the gas-filled compartment by the evacuated compartment. During a free expansion of a gas, the heat transfer between the system and the surrounding, and the work done by the gas are both equals to zero. In other words, no work is done by the gas during a free expansion.

Problem 3.4

(a) Calculate the work done upon expansion of 1 mol of gas quasi-statically and isothermally from volume vi to volume vf, when the equation of state is , where a and b are the van der Waals constant.

(b)If a =1.4109 N∙m4/mol and b=3.210-5 m3/mol, how much work is done when the gas expands from a volume of 10 liters to a volume of 22.4 liters at 20°C?

Solutions:

(a)

(b) = 2.251015 J