ME-1101 Thermodynamics

Jul-Nov 2015
Tutorial – 2

1. Evaluate the work done in the following processes. The systems to be considered are printed
in bold. (a) An agent slowly raises a body of mass 5 kg through a vertical distance of 10 m in a
gravitational field. Neglect air resistance (b) A body of mass 10 kg is lowered by a crane
slowly through a vertical distance of 30 m. Neglect air resistance (c) A body of mass 10 kg
falls freely through a vertical distance of 30 m. The drag force of the atmosphere on the body
is 4 N (d) A body of mass 10 kg falls freely (in a vacuum) through a vertical distance of 30 m.
(e) A rat, weighing 4 N climbs a stair 0.3 m in height (f) The electric motor of a crane supplied
with a current of 14 amps from a 200 V DC supply for a period of 15 seconds while the crane
lifts a machine of mass 2000 kg through a vertical distance of 2 m. The weight of the
inextensible cable and the resistance of the pulleys over which the cable passes are
negligible.

2. A gas is contained in a piston cylinder mechanism at an initial pressure of 1 bar. The piston
diameter is 15 cm and it rests on stops initially as shown in the
figure. The piston weight is such that it requires a pressure of 1.2
bar to be lifted from the stops. The gas is now heated which
causes the piston to rise slowly. After a rise of 10 cm, the piston
touches a linear spring with a stiffness value of 10 N/mm. The
heating of the gas is finally stopped when the spring is
compressed by 1 cm. Determine the work interaction for the gas,
piston, spring and the atmosphere. Also sketch the process
undergone by the gas on a PV diagram and show the four work Gas
25 cm
interactions mentioned above by hatching the appropriate areas.

3. A cubical block (1m x 1m x 1m) weighing 2000 kg, initially rests on the floor of a water well.
The well has diameter of 5m and water level is 8 m, when the block is under water. The
atmospheric pressure above the well is 1 bar. A crane lifts the block up to a height of 12 m
above the well floor level, using a frictionless pulley and rope mechanism. Neglect viscous
resistance in air and water, and assume the rope to be inelastic and massless. Find the work
interaction for the following systems: (i) block, (ii) well water, (iii) atmospheric air, (iv) rope,
(v) pulley, and (vi) crane.

4. A spherical balloon has a diameter D1, when the pressure of the gas inside is p1 and the
atmospheric pressure is p0. A process occurs now in which the balloon diameter increases to
D2 and the pressure of the gas is proportional to the balloon diameter. Derive expressions for
the work interactions for the gas and for the atmosphere.
5. Consider the frictionless piston-cylinder arrangement shown in Patm
the figure, in which two pistons are connected by a thin rod of
negligible mass and volume. A certain amount of air is enclosed
in the space between the pistons such that the piston assembly is
initially in equilibrium. The cross-sectional area of the upper
Q

Air
piston is 10 cm2 greater than the lower one. The combined mass
of the pistons is 5 kg. A very slow heating process now takes
place as a result of which the piston assembly moves upward by
25 cm. Determine (i) the initial pressure of the air, (b) the work
interaction for air, (c) the work interaction for the piston assembly
and (d) the work interaction for the atmosphere (Patm = 105 Pa).
Patm

6. Tank A shown in the figure has a volume of 0.4 m3 and contains

argon gas at 250 kPa. Cylinder B contains a frictionless piston
of mass such that a pressure of 150 kPa is required to lift it. The A B
connecting valve is opened allowing the argon gas to flow into
the cylinder. Eventually the argon gas reaches a uniform state.
Determine (a) the final pressure (b) the work interaction for the
argon gas, piston and the atmosphere. Take the atmospheric
pressure to be 100 kPa. Any change in the state of the argon
gas is related through PV = constant.

7. A balloon which is initially flat, is inflated with N2 gas until the final diameter is 1 m and the
pressure of the gas is 3 bar. The atmospheric pressure is 1 bar. Assume that the gauge
pressure of the gas is proportional to the balloon diameter during the inflation process. Find the
work done by the following systems: (1) Nitrogen gas, (2) balloon membrane, (3) the
atmosphere.

8. A DC electrical motor is used to operate the hoist mechanism in a crane. The motor is supplied
with 150 V and 10 amp from a DC source for a period of 2 min. The torque provided by the
motor to the hoist shaft is 230 Nm at 60 rpm. The hoist mechanism lifts a mass of 3 tonnes
through a height of 5 m. Calculate the work interaction for the DC source, motor, hoist, and the
mass.