Thermal Physics
Questions on Thermodynamics
 
Equations of Thermal Physics
 
 
1 Two liters of ideal gas confined to a cylinder by a piston expands isothermally to three
liters when heat is added. If the pressure on the piston is atmospheric, how much work
was done by the gas and how much heat was added to it?
 
V1 = 2 L = 210-3 m3
T = constant
V2 = 3 L = 310-3 m3
p = 1.013105 Pa
W=?J
Q=?
U = ? J
 
Since pressure is constant W = p(V2 - V1)
W = (1.013105)(110-3) = 101 J
Since the gas is ideal and since T is constant U = 0
First Law of Thermodynamics
U = Q - W
 
Q = W = 101 J
 
2 If a system does 1000 J of external work on its surroundings and 300 J of heat flows
into the system from the surroundings, does the internal energy of the system increase
or decrease? By how much?
 
W = + 1000 J
Q = + 300 J
U = ? J
 
First Law of Thermodynamics
U = Q - W
 
U = (300 - 1000) J
 
 U  = - 700 J
 
The internal energy of the system decreases and its temperature falls.
 
3 State which of the following processes are adiabatic, which are isochoric and which are
isobaric.
(a)    the rapid compression of air in a bicycle pump
(b)    the oxidation of alcohol in a bomb calorimeter (a closed metal container)
(c)    the slow inflation of a balloon
(d)    the melting of a block of ice.
 
(a)   adiabatic (no time fro heat to be transferred from system)
(b)  isochoric (volume constant - system inside closed container)
(c)  isobaric (balloon expanding against atmospheric pressure)
(d)  isobaric (block exposed to the pressure of the atmosphere).
 
4 By how much does the internal energy of a gas change as 2000 J of heat is added to it if
the gas is maintained at constant volume? Where does the energy go if the gas is ideal
and monatomic?  Diatomic?
 
U=?
Q = + 2000 J
V=0W=0
 
First Law of Thermodynamics
U=Q-W
U = 2000 - 0
U = 2000 J
 
For a monatomic gas, the energy goes into the increased translational
kinetic energy. For a diatomic gas, its goes to translational, rotational and
vibrational energy.
 
5 The pressure and volume of an ideal gas behave as shown during an expansion from A
to B. How much work was done by the gas in the process?
 
 The work done is equal to the area under the pV curve from A to B
 
W = area of two triangles + area of three rectangles
W = (1/2)(2 - 1)(20 - 5) + (1/2)(5 - 4)(40 - 10)
+ (2 - 1)(5) + (4 - 2)(40)( + (5 - 4)(10)
W = 117.5 kPa.mL
1 kPa = 103 Pa
1 mL = 10-6 m3
1 kPa.mL = (103)(10-6) m3 = 10-3 m3
W = (117.5)(10-3) J
W = 0.12 J 
 
6 An ideal gas originally at a temperature T1 and pressure p1 is adiabatically
compressed to one-third its original volume at temperature T2 and pressure
p2. Find the ratio T2 / T1 and p2 / p1. (  = 1.40 for this gas)
 
In an adiabatic change:
pV = constant and TV-1 = constant
 
V2 = V1 / 3
p2 = p1 (V1 / V2 )
p2 = p1 (3)1.4 = 4.7 p1
T2 = T1 (V1 / V2 )-1 = T1 (3)0.4 = 1.6 T1
 
7 A certain ideal gas is carried around the cycle shown starting at A.
Find the work done by the gas confined to a cylinder as it is carried around the pV
cycle. What was the temperature of the gas at point B if the temperature at A was 27
°C? What is the change in internal energy at the end of one cycle? What is the net heat
added to the system during the cycle?  
 

Work done each cycle, W = area enclosed by the cycle

W = (4 - 1)(30) - (4 - 1)(10)  kPa.mL = 90 - 30 kPa.mL = 60 kPa.mL
1 kPa = 103 Pa
1 mL = 10-6 m3
1 kPa.mL = (103)(10-6) m3 = 10-3 m3
W = (60)(10-3) J
W = 0.060 J 
 
Ideal gas equation: p V = n R T
pA = 3105 Pa
VA = 1.0 mL = 1.010-6 m3
TA = 27 °C = (27 + 273) K = 300 K
pB = pA = 3105 Pa
VB = 4.0 mL = 4.010-6 m3
TB = ? K
 
n R = ( pB VB / TB ) = ( pA VA / TA )
TB = TA (VB / VA ) = (300)(4 / 1)
TB = 1200 K  = (1200 - 273) °C
TB = 927 °C
 
At the end of each cycle, you are back to the same state, therefore, the
 change in internal and temperature are both zero.
U = 0 and T = 0
 
First Law of Thermodynamics: U = Q - W
 
W = Q = 0.060 J
 
8 One gram of water at 100 °C is heated in a piston-cylinder arrangement until it is all
changed to steam at 100 °C. The piston is pushed out by the steam so as to preserve a
pressure of 105 Pa during the process. Find the work done by the steam and compare it
to the heat energy required to vaporize the water.
 
mass of water, m = 1 g = 0.001 kg
liquid to a gas at 100 °C
external pressure on cylinder, p = 105 Pa
work done by system, W = ? J
vaporization of water, Q = ? J
 
Since the work done by the system is done at constant pressure
W = p (V2 - V1)
initial volume of water, V1 = 1 mL = 10-6 m3 (since mass is 1 g)
final volume of water, V2 = ? m3
Consider the steam as an ideal gas, then
pV=nRT
R = 8.314 J.mol-1.K-1
V=nRT/p
number of moles of water = m / M, where M = 18 is the molecular mass of
water
n =1/18
p = 105 Pa
T = 100 °C = (100 + 273) K = 373 K
V = V2 = (1/18)(8.314)(373)/105
V2 = 1.7210-3 m3
 
W = (105)(1.7210-3 - 110-6) J
W = 172 J
 
Energy to vaporize the water
Q=mL
L = 2.26106  J.kg-1
 Q = (110-3)(2.26106) J
Q = 2.26103 J
 
The major part of the energy is used in tearing the molecules apart in the
vaporization and not in the work done by the steam.
 
9 A steam engine operates between 500 °C and T = 270 °C. What is the maximum
efficiency of this engine.
 
efficiency for a Carnot engine,  = 1 - TC / TH
 
TH = 500 °C = (500 + 273) K = 773 K
TC = 270 ° C = (270 + 273) K = 543 K
 
 = 1 - (543 / 773)
 
 = 0.30
 
The efficiency of any engine can not exceed this value.
 
1 When a quantity of steam in a flask at 100 °C suddenly condenses to water it is clear
0 that there is an increase in order amongst the water molecules.
Has the second law of thermodynamics been violated? Write down expressions for
entropy changes to support your claim.
 
There is no violation of the Second Law of Thermodynamics. When the
steam condenses, there is a flow of energy (equal to mL, where m is the
mass of steam condensed and L is the latent heat of vaporization) to the
environment.
Changes in entropy of steam/water:
Sw =  dQ / T =  - mL / T
T = 100 °C
 
Changes in entropy of environment
SE =  dQ / T = mL / TE
The environment is at a lower temperature than the steam, TE < T
 
SW +SE = - mL / T + mL / TE > 0
 
The net change in entropy is positive.
 
1 In an experiment 0.2 kg of aluminum at 100 °C is mixed with 0.050 kg of
1 water at 20 °C.
 
What is the final equilibrium temperature?
What is the change in entropy of the aluminum?
What is the change in entropy of the water?
What is the change in entropy of the aluminum / water system?
 
Assume the aluminum / water system is well insulated from the
surroundings.
specific heat capacity of water cW = 4180 J.kg-1.K-1
specific heat capacity of aluminum, cA = 900 J.kg-1.K-1
 
mass of aluminum, mA = 0.2 kg
mass of water, mw = 0.050 kg
initial temperature of aluminum, TA = 100 °C
initial water of water, Tw =  20 °C
final equilibrium temperature, T = ? °C
 
Change in temperature: Q = m c T
 
Energy conservation:
Energy lost by aluminum +  Energy gained by water = 0
 
mA cA TA +  mw cw TW = 0
 
(0.2)(900)(T - 100) + (0.05)(4180)(T - 20) = 0
 
T = 57 °C
 
Change in entropy:  S =  dQ / T
Q = m c T
S = m c  dT / T = m c ln( Tf / Ti )
 
Aluminum: SA = (0.2)(900) ln{(57+273) / {(100+273)} = - 22.1 J.K-1
 
Water: SW = (0.05)(4180) ln{(57+273) / {(20+273)} = + 24.9 J.K-1
 
System:
 S = SA + SW = ( -22.1 + 24.9 ) J.K-1
S = + 2.8 J.K-1
 
1 Two moles of argon gas (monatomic, CV  = 12.6 J.mol-1.K-1) starts at point A at a
2 pressure of 105 Pa and 273 K. Its original volume is 4.910-2 m3. It is isothermally
compressed to (1/4) of its original volume and thereby taken to point B. It is then
adiabatically expanded to its original volume and reaches point C. Then it is allowed to
return isochorically to its original state (point A).
 
    (a) Draw the pV diagram for the cycle.
 
    (b)  Find U for part AB of the cycle.
 
    (c) Find Q for part AB of the cycle.
 
(a)

 
(b)
argon - monatomic gas, n = 2 mol
cV = 12.6 J.mol-1.K-1
pA = 105 Pa
VA = 4.910-2 m3
A to B isothermal
TA = TB
B to C adiabatic
VC = VA
C to A isochoric
 
Change in internal energy: A to B is isothermal: T = 0  U = 0
 
(c)
 Since U = 0 and first law: U = Q - W
Q = W =  p dV
For an ideal gas: pV = n R T  p = ( n R T ) / V
Q= W = n R TA  dV / V =  n R TA ln(VB / VA)
Q = W = pA VA ln(VB / VA)
Q = W = (105)(4.910-2) ln(1/4)
Q = W = - 6.8103 J
 
1 What is the theoretical upper limit to the amount of work per cycle which can be
3 obtained from this engine?
 

 
The theoretical limit is given by S = 0
 
Decrease in entropy of hot reservoir:
SH = - QH / TH
Increase in entropy of cold reservoir:
SC = QC / TC
SH +  SC = 0 = - QH / TH + QC / TC
 
QC = (TC / TH) QH = (400 / 600)(10) kJ = 6.7 kJ
W = QH - QC = 3.3 kJ
 
Alternatively:
max efficiency of any heat engine is
 = 1 - TC / TH = W / QH
W = (1 - TC / TH)QH = (1 - 400/600)(10) kJ
 W = 3.3 kJ
 
1 Consider two engines - the energies quoted are for one cycle of operation.
4 (a)    Calculate the heat lost to the cold reservoir.
(b)    Calculate the entropy changes in the hot reservoir, the cold reservoir and the
engine.
(c)    Can the engine operate?
 

 
W = QH - QC  QC =  QH - W
Change in entropy S =  dQ / T = Q / T
 
Engine 1:
QC = (1000 - 200) J = 800 J
SH = ( - 1000 / 400 ) J.K-1 = - 2.5 J.K-1
SC = ( + 800 / 300 ) J.K-1 = + 2.7 J.K-1
S = SH + SC = ( - 2.5 + 2.7) J.K-1 = + 0.2 J.K-1
Engine 1 can operate because there is an increase in the entropy.
 
Engine 2:
QC = (1000 - 300) J = 700 J
SH = ( - 1000 / 400 ) J.K-1 = - 2.5 J.K-1
SC = ( + 700 / 300 ) J.K-1 = + 2.3 J.K-1
S = SH + SC = ( - 2.5 + 2.3) J.K-1 = - 0.2 J.K-1
Engine 2 can not operate because there is a decrease in the entropy.
 
 
1 The contents of a refrigerator are at 270 K, the room outside is at 300 K.
5 Calculate the maximum rate at which energy can be removed from the
contents if the power consumed by the refrigerator is 1000 W.
 
Decrease in entropy of contents of refrigerator:
SC = - QC / TC
 
Increase in entropy of surroundings:
SH = + QH / TH
 
Entropy of the "universe" never decrease (Second Law of
Thermodynamics):
S = - QC / TC + QH / TH  0
 
Now W = QH - QC  QH  = W - QC
 
- QC / TC + ( W - QC ) / TH  0
 
QC  ( W TC ) / ( TH - TC )
 
dQC/dt  (dW/dt) TC / (TH - TC )
dQC/dt  (1000) (270) / (300 - 270) W
 
dQC/dt  9000 W
 
 
1 A heat pump is required to deliver 3.0 kW of power to the inside of a room at 21 °C
6 from the outside of a room at 10 °C.
(a)    What will be the rate of energy extracted from the outside air?
(b)    If the pump is 80% efficient how much external power must be supplied to the
pump?
 
Assume the heat pump works will maximum performance, so that the
change in entropy of the pump is zero at the end of each cycle.
 
S = 0 = SC(outside)+ SH(inside) = - QC / TC + QH / TH
 
TC = 10 °C = (10 + 273) K = 283 K
TH = 21 °C = (21 + 273) K = 294 K
 
In one second:
QC = 3000 J
QH = ? J
 
QH = QC (TH / TC) = (3000)(294) / 283 J = 3.1103 J
 
Rate of energy extracted from the outside air  = 3.1103 W
 
Now QH = W + QC
 
W = QH - QC = 3100 - 3000 = 1.0102 J
 
Pump 80% efficient, therefore energy input = (1.0102)(100/80) =
1.3102 J
 
External power supplied to the pump = 1.3102 W