Physics 7A

Quiz #1 Solutions
Spring 2013
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Temperature
1.0kg
A
TBP
B
TMP

 Energy Added

1. Above is a Temperature-vs.-Energy-Added diagram for 1.0kg of kryptonite, derived in the laboratory of Lex Luthor.
Lex has 1.0kg of kryptonite in container A at one temperature, and 1.0kg of it in container B at a different temperature.
The contents of container A are 67% liquid and 33% gas, while the contents of container B are 75% solid and 25% liquid.
Lex now combines the contents of these containers into a thermally-insulated container, and it all comes to equilibrium.

a. (20 points) On the graph above, label the points that represent the states of the kryptonite in the containers (before
mixing) using the letter of the container.

The horizontal lines represent the mixed-phase portions of the graph (which occur at fixed temperatures), and the
slanted lines the temperature changes (where the kryptonite is at a single phase). For the leftmost slanted part of the
graph the kryptonite is in the solid phase, so it starts melting where that section of graph intersects the horizontal
segment. One quarter of the way along this segment (going right) is where enough heat has gone into the sample to
melt one quarter of it, so three-quarters of it are still solid. Similarly, the right horizontal segment accounts for the
boiling of liquid kryptonite into the gaseous form. One third of the way along that segment (going right) is where
enough energy has been added to the sample that one third of the sample has been changed to gaseous form, leaving
two thirds in liquid form.

b. (40 points) In the space below, draw an energy-interaction diagram that represents the change of the system from the
point when the quantities of kryptonite are combined, to when they reach equilibrium.

kryptonite A
kryptonite B
kryptonite A
kryptonite B

Ebond
Ebond
Eth
Eth

vapor solid temp temp

initial vapor: 33%

initial solid: 75%
initial temp: TBP
initial temp: TMP

final vapor: 0% final solid: 0% final temp: final temp:

ΔEbond A + ΔEbond B + ΔEth A + ΔEth B = 0



This is an insulated container, so the system is closed (no heat entering from outside), and all of the energy that exits
the hotter mass of kryptonite enters the cooler one. When they reach equilibrium, they will be in the same state, and
they have the same mass, so the final state will be exactly halfway between the points A and B indicated on the graph
above. That point lies on the center sloped segment, which is where the kryptonite is all liquid. This point is
approximately (looking at the graph) one quarter of the way from the melting point to the boiling point, which gives
the final temp shown above (you did not have to get this for your solution - indicating it was between the melting
and boiling points was sufficient).

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Physics 7A
Quiz #1 Solutions
Spring 2013
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2. Every grid mark on the axes above represents the same value as it does in the graph from problem #1.

a. (20 points) Sketch as accurately as you can, the graph that would represent the Temperature-vs.-Added-Energy
relationship for 2.0kg of kryptonite.

b. (20 points) Label with an “F” on this graph the point that represents the final equilibrium state of the 2.0kg of
kryptonite from problem 1. What phase or phases are present in the final state? Briefly explain.

Temperature

2.0kg
TBP
F
TMP

 Energy Added

The key features to this graph are:

• The melting and boiling points don’t change when there is twice as much kryptonite, so the horizontal sections
are at the same heights as before.

• It takes twice as much energy to melt 2kg of kryptonite as 1kg of it, so the horizontal section that represents
melting needs to be twice as long (8 units) as before.

• It takes twice as much energy to change the temperature of 2kg of kryptonite as 1kg of it the same number of
degrees, so the sloped sections that represent temperature changes need to go twice as far along the horizontal
axis (4 units) as before.

• When the energy added to get to state A from zero is added to the energy added to get to state B from zero, you
get the total energy added to the combined final state F. Therefore you simply add the energy added for A (10
units) to the energy added for B (3 units), and the final state F therefore lies at 13 units.