MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Ch.E. 204- Thermodynamics I (Section 02)
Dr. N. Sezgi, M. Sarıyer

PROBLEM SET I
(Date Due: October 30, 2018)

Problem 1. For each of the following systems, indicate whether the system is isolated,
closed, or open and explain briefly a) A closed bottle of wine, b) A lake, c) A pressure
cooker, d) A thermos flask, e) A human body, f) A car radiator.

Problem 2. A mercury thermometer is calibrated at the ice and steam points. Using
the following data, calculate the reading of this thermometer at 200°C. Indicate your
assumptions.
T(°C) ρ(g/cm3 ) T(°C) ρ(g/cm3 )
0 13.5955 150 13.2330
50 13.4729 200 13.1148
100 13.3522 250 12.9975

Problem 3. A rigid tank initially contains air at 60 bar. A valve is opened and the
pressure in the tank falls rapidly to 35 bar. To calculate the air temperature at the final
state it is convenient to choose “air remaining in the tank when the pressure reaches
35 bar” as the system. Is this an open or a closed system?

Problem 4. State the direction of the heat transfer Q and work W for each of the
following processes. The systems to be considered are underlined.
a) The air in a tyre and connected pump. The pump plunger is pushed down,
forcing air into the tyre. Assume tyre, pump walls, plunger and connecting tube
to be non-conducting.
b) Steam in a closed rigid vessel at a temperature of 150°C is left standing in an
atmosphere which is at a temperature of 25°C.
c) Gas in an insulated cylinder expans as the piston is moved slowly outwards.

Problem 5. A cylinder fitted with a piston contains a gas at a given temperature and
pressure. The gas cools at constant pressure to a new volume by the transfer of heat.
How would you define the system to determine the amount of work done and heat
transferred? Also show the process path in a P-V diagram.

Problem 6. A gas is compressed from an initial volume of 0.42 m3 to a

final volume of 0.12 m3. During the quasi-equilibrium process, the
pressure changes with volume according to the relation P = aV + b,
where a = -1200 kPa/m3 and b = 600 kPa. Calculate the work done
during this process (a) by plotting the process on a P–V diagram and
finding the area under the process curve and (b) by performing the
necessary integrations.