Tutorial 1

EP 209 - Thermal Physics

Question 1 - Thermometers
A constant volume gas thermometer contains a gas whose equation of state is


P+

a
(v b) = RT
v2

and another, of identical construction, contains a different gas which obeys the ideal gas law,
Pv = RT, where v is the molar volume. The thermometers are calibrated at the ice and
steam points. Show that they will give identical values for a temperature measurement.
Question 2 - Isotherms
For any thermodynamic (PVT) system in equilibrium, can isotherms for different temperatures
intersect?
Question 3 - Different Temp. Scales
The pressure of an ideal gas kept at constant volume is given by the equation P=AT, where
T is the thermodynamic temperature and A is a constant. Let a temperature T* be defined
by T* = B ln(CT), where B and C are constants. The pressure P is 0.1 atm at the triple
point of water. The temperature T* is 0 degree at the triple point and T* is 100 degree at
the steam point.
a) Find the values of A, B and C.
b) Find the value of T* when P= 0.15 atm.
c) Find the value of P when T* is 50 degree.
d) What is the value of T* at absolute zero?
e) Sketch a graph of T* vs. the Celsius temperature t for -200o C < t < 200o C.
[Ans: (a) A = 3.66 x 104 atm K1 , B= 321 degree, C = 3.66 x 103 K1 , (b) 130 degree,
(c) 0.12 atm, (d) tends to -infinity.

Question 4 - Heating
A block of copper at a pressure of 1 atm (approximately 100 kPa) and a temperature of
5o C is kept at constant volume. If the temperature is raised to 10o C, what will be the final
pressure?
If the vessel holding the block of copper has a negligibly small thermal expansivity and
can withstand a maximum pressure of 100 atm, which is the highest temperature to which
the system may be raised? (Note: volume expansion coefficient is three times the linear
expansion coefficient and isothermal compressibility is the reciprocal of the bulk modulus
B. For this problem, assume that the volume expansivity and isothermal compressibility
remains practically constant within the temperature range of 0 to 20o C at the values of 4.95
x 105 K1 and 6.17 x 1012 Pa1 , respectively.)
Question 5 - Idea of Partials
A and B are both functions of the variables x and y, and A/B = C. Show that

 x 

(lnB)
y

x
(lnA)
x
y

(lnA)
y

x
(lnB)
x
y

Question 6 - Wires
The tension in a wire is increased quasi-statically and isothermally from Fi to Ff . If the
length, cross-sectional area and isothermal Youngs modulus of the wire remain constant,
show that the work done is
L
W =
(F 2 Fi2 )
2AY f
Question 7 - Dielectrics
A dielectric has an equation of state P= EV where is a function of temperature only.
Show that the work done in an isothermal, quasi-static change of state is given by
W =

1
V 2
(Pf2 Pi2 ) =
(Ef Ei2 )
2V
2

Question 8 - Assumptions
Steam enters through an inlet at a pressure of 2 x 106 Pa into a cylinder fitted with a piston.
Initially the piston is to the extreme left. The area of cross-section of the piston is 1062
m2 and the distance moved is 0.5m. Calculate the work done. What assumption, if any, was
needed to arrive at your answer?

Question 9 - Burning
In the figure given below, one mole of a mono-atomic ideal gas occupies two chambers of
a cylinder partitioned by means of a movable piston. The walls of the cylinder as well as
the piston are thermal insulators. Initially equal amounts of gas fill both the chambers at
(P0 , V0 , T0 ). A coil is burnt in the left chamber. The gas absorbs heat and expands, pushing
the partition to the right without any friction. The process is quasi-static. The gas in the
right chamber is compressed until its pressure becomes 32 P0 . Calculate
a) the final temperature of the two chambers,
b) the work done on the right chamber and
c) the heat absorbed by the left chamber.

Question 10 - Special pump

The cylinder of volume 0.6 m3 is provided with a piston, the wall of which has a stop-cork.
The left part of the cylinder contains 0.01 k-mol of an ideal gas ( = 1.4) at a temperature of
300 K; the right chamber is evacuated. Initially the gas occupies a third of the total volume
of the cylinder. The walls of the cylinder are adiabatic. The piston is moved quasi-statically
so that the volume of the gas is doubled. The valve in the piston is then opened so that the
gas fills the entire volume. Calculate the final pressure and temperature of the gas, work
done, Q and U.