PH451: Thermal and Statistical Physics

Mandatory Quiz: March 27, 2021

Full Marks: 30 Time: 60 min.

1. The vapor pressure p (in millimeters of mercury) of solid ammonia is

given by ln p = 23.03 − 3754/T and that is liquid ammonia by ln p =
19.49−3063/T . (a) What is the temperature of the triple point ? (b) What
are the latent heats of sublimation and vaporization at the triple point ?
(c) What is the latent heat of melting at the triple point ? [2+4+2=8]
2. Consider the van der Walls equation of state
a
(p + )(v − b) = RT
v2
for one mole of gas, where the expressions have usual meaning. Obtain
an expression of change of its entropy in terms of molar specific heat cV
at constant volume, if temperature changes from T0 to T1 and the volume
from v0 to v1 . Assume cV is independent of temperature. How would your
result change in the dilute gas limit ? [5+2=7]
3. Consider Earth’s atmosphere as an ideal gas of molecular weight µ in
a uniform gravitational field, that produces an acceleration g. (a) If z
denotes the height above sea level, show that the change of atmospheric
pressure p with height is given by
dp µg
=− dz,
p RT

where T is the absolute temperature at the height z. (b) If the decrease

of pressure is due to an adiabatic expansion, then show that
dp γ dT
= .
p γ−1 T

(c) Suppose the atmosphere is isothermal at a temperature T . Then find

p(z) in terms of pressure p0 at the sea level. (d) In case of adiabatic change
of pressure, obtain p(z), if the pressure and temperature at the sea level
are p0 and T0 . [2+2+1+5=10]
4. Consider the van der Walls equation of state as stated in Q.2 above. Ob-
tain the expressions of pressure pc , volume vc and temperature Tc at the
critical point, in terms of a and b. [5]