Michaelmas Term 201

Thermodynamics 6 Paper-based problem

Thermo. 6 Hand-in problem

(a) An electric kettle holding 250 cm3 of water that is initially frozen at 0.0 C
around the electric heating element of the kettle is switched on to heat the
contents at a steady rate. The ice melts and the water temperature is increased
to 95.0 C. Calculate (i) any entropy change when the ice melts and (ii) the
total change in entropy of the water resulting from this process. (iii) Is the
solid/liquid transition process reversible or irreversible? (iv) what effect would
doubling the heating rate have had upon the final internal energy and the
entropy of the water at 95.0 C?
[Heat of fusion of water is 334 x103 J kg-1, mass specific heat capacity of
water is 4190 J kg-1 K-1, assume density of ice is 1000 kg m-3.]
[6 marks]
(b) A party balloon with a volume of 2.40 L and containing 0.100 mol of air is left
behind after the decommissioning party on the International Space Station. As
it drifts through the depressurised space station, sunlight coming through a
porthole heats and burst the balloon. This causes the air in it to undergo a free
expansion into the empty space station, whose total volume is 425 m3.
Calculate the entropy change of the air during the expansion.
[3 marks]