Theory

Figure 1: Pressurized and Vacuum Chamber

Figure 1 shows both pressurized chamber and vacuum chamber which an apparatus that are
used to demonstrate the first law of thermodynamics by using ideal gas law, PV=nRT and
assuming the apparatus is in thermal equilibrium with its surrounding. On the left side, which
is the pressurized chamber are filled with gas molecules which were blocked by valve from
escaping into the vacuum chamber on the right side of the apparatus. Thus, the gases will be
at initial equilibrium state before the valve is open. Once the valve no longer blocking the gas
molecules from entering the vacuum chamber, the number of moles gas and pressure will be
at final equilibrium state. Therefore, we will be able to see the implementation of ideal gas
law once equilibrium is achieved by obtaining the result after opening the valve.

Boyle’s Law

Figure 2 : Boyle’s Law

Boyle’s law expresses that the pressure of a given mass which an ideal gas is inversely
proportional to its volume at a constant temperature. In other words, if volume of the given
mass increase, hence the pressure of it will decrease. Thus, we can write the Boyle’s law
equation as
 1
P∝
V

Figure 2 portrays the implementation of Boyle’s law visually. When the volume is decrease,
all the gas molecules inside the container are closer to each other. Even though the amount of
gas moles are constant, the tendency for the gas molecules to hit the wall and with each other
will be higher since the space for the gas molecules to travel are very limited. This will lead
to the surge of pressure inside the container due to frequency of the gas molecules hitting the
wall. To relate the relationship between volume and pressure of the gas with a constant
temperature, k, we are able to write equation as below,

PV =k

P1 V 1=P2 V 2

Where,
P = Pressure of the molecules inside the container
V = Volume of the container
k = Constant

Figure 3: Boyle’s Law graph

We can conclude that the pressure of a given mass is inversely proportional to its volume at
a constant temperature.
 Gay Lussac’s Law
Based on Gay Lussac’s law, when the volume is at constant, pressure of a given gas are
directly proportional with the absolute temperature of the gas. Thus, we can compute this
relationship as any of equations below,

P ∝T

P=k G T

P
=k G
T

P 1 P2
= ... P 1 T 2=P2 T 1
T1 T 2

Where,

P = Pressure of the gas

T = Temperature of the gas ( Kelvin)

kG = Constant

Figure 4: Gay Lussac’s law graph

Figure 4 visualize the relationship between the pressure of moles of gas and temperature of
the gas in Kelvin. It is clearly shows that pressure of the gas are directly proportional with its
temperature. Therefore, we can say that when temperature of the gas increase, it will lead to
the surging of kinetic energy of the gas molecules as they gains energy. This situation will
make them moves in a greater speed than before and hit the walls and each other more often.
Inconclusively, the pressure of the gas in a container will increase as result from the collision
of gas molecules with the container’s wall.

Determination of ratio of heat capacity.

Ratio of heat capacity tells the interrelation of heat capacity at persistent volume and heat
capacity at persistent pressure. Based on theory of the first law of thermodynamics, heat
capacities which is persistent both in its volume and pressure can be connected via equation
below,

C P −CV =R

Where,

Cp = molar heat capacity at constant pressure

Cv = molar heat capacity at constant volume

However, a real gas is dependent on the equation of state and can be obtain through two-step
process.

An intermediate pressure ,Pi perform an adiabatic reversible expansion throughout the initial
pressure, Ps

{ P S ,V S ,T S } → { Pi , V i ,T i }
At constant volume, Vi, the temperature go back to its original value, Ts

{ Pi , V i , T i }→ { Pf , V i ,T i }
The first law of thermodynamic states that,

dU =dq+ dW

Where, dq = 0 since its reversible adiabatic expression. When expansion process occurs,

dU =dW ∨dU =− pdV ....(1)

The heat capacity affect the change in internal energy through the change in temperature at a
persistent volume,

dU =CvdT ....(2)
Substitute equation (2) into (1) and the integrates it,

CvdT =− pdV

Ti Vi
C v ln ( )
Ts
=−Rln
Vs( )
For an ideal gas,

Ti
=P s s
Ts