2.4, 2.

10
Applications of the First Law to ideal gases

What we know

Equation of state pv = RT

The fist law

du = dq + dw dh = dq + vdp

Internal energy is function

only of temperature du = cv dT dh = c p dT

Specific heats are related c p − cv = R

"expansion work" dw = − pdv

du = cv dT dh = c p dT c p − cv = R dw = − pdv

The first law of thermodynamics for an ideal gas

du = dq + dw cv dT = dq − pdv

dh = dq + vdp c p dT = dq + vdp
 Isothermal vs. Adiabatic

An isothermal process in one in which

the initial and final temperatures are
the same.
dT = 0
An adiabatic process in one in which no
heat is exchanged between the system and
its surroundings.
dq = 0
Isothermal processes are not
necessarily adiabatic.
 Reversible Changes

• A reversible change is one that can be

reversed by an infinitesimal modification
of a variable.

• In a reversible expansion or compression

penv = p gas
Lets consider an isothermal expansion dT = 0
Because Internal energy is function
du = cv dT only of temperature, the internal
energy of the gas is unchanged

cv dT = dq − pdv dq = pdv

The first law of thermodynamics for an isothermal expansion

dq = pdv

isothermal expansion
 If we want to integrate dq = pdv

only expansion
work"
dw = − pdv ∫ dw ≠ 0
What do we need???? Path!!!

Lets consider the path of an

isothermal reversible expansion
A
B
Equation of state is satisfied
during all the stages of the
expansion

pv = RT
v1 v2

isothermal expansion
If we want to integrate
RT
dq = pdv pv = RT p=
v

dv dv
dq = RT
v2
Δq = RT ∫
v v1 v

⎛ v2 ⎞ ⎛ p1 ⎞
Δq = RT ln⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ v=
RT Δq = RT ln⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ v1 ⎠ p ⎝ p2 ⎠

⎛ v2 ⎞ ⎛ p1 ⎞
Δq = RT ln⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ = RT ln⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ v1 ⎠ ⎝ p2 ⎠
isothermal expansion
du = cv dT dh = c p dT c p − cv = R dw = − pdv

Constant volume process dv = 0

du = dq + dw du = dq − pdv

du = dq du = cv dT

dq = cv dT

Δq = cv (T2 − T1 )
The amount of heat required to
raise the temperature of the
gas from T1 to T2 at constant
volume
Constant volume
du = cv dT dh = c p dT c p − cv = R dw = − pdv

Constant pressure process dp = 0

dh = dq + vdp dh = dq

dh = c p dT dq = c p dT

Δq = c p (T2 − T1 )
The amount of heat required to
raise the temperature of the
gas from T1 to T2 at constant
pressure

Constant pressure
Adiabatic process Process in which NO HEAT is
exchange between the system and

dq = 0
its environment

du = dq + dw
w

Fist law for a

du = dw reversible adiabatic
process
q
du = − pdv
An adiabatic compression
q
increases the internal
energy of the system
Adiabatic process
The first law of thermodynamics for an ideal gas

cv dT = dq − pdv c p dT = dq + vdp

Adiabatic process dq = 0

cv dT = − pdv c p dT = vdp

Fist law for adiabatic expansion

Adiabatic process
 Poisson’s equations dq = 0
Lets consider a reversible adiabatic EXPANSION for an ideal gas

cv dT = − pdv RT
pv = RT p=
v

RT dT dv
cv dT = − dv cv = −R
v T v
Lets assume
constant
cv There is a final and initial state

T2 dT v2 dv
cv ∫ = −R∫
T1 T v1 v
Poisson’s equations

T2 dT v2 dv ⎛ T2 ⎞ ⎛ v2 ⎞
cv ∫ = −R∫ cv ln⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ = − R ln⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
T ⎝ T1 ⎠ ⎝ v1 ⎠
T1 v1 v

R
⎛ T2 ⎞ ⎛ v1 ⎞ cv During an adiabatic
⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ expansion of a gas, the
temperature decreases
⎝ T1 ⎠ ⎝ v2 ⎠

Reverse process adiabatic Compression

Work is done on the gas and the temperature increases

 R
⎛ T2 ⎞ ⎛ v1 ⎞ cv
⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ T1 ⎠ ⎝ v2 ⎠

cp
⎛ p2 ⎞ ⎛ v1 ⎞ cv
⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ p1 ⎠ ⎝ v2 ⎠ pv = RT

R
⎛ T2 ⎞ ⎛ p2 ⎞ cp
⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ T1 ⎠ ⎝ p1 ⎠
isothermal expansion Vs reversible adiabatic expansion

pv = RT

A given pressure
decrease produces a
smaller volume increase
in the adiabatic case
relative to the
isothermal case

Temperature also decreases

during the adiabatic expansion

P, v diagram
Dry Adiabatic Processes in the Atmosphere dq = 0
R
T0 ⎛ p 0 ⎞ cp For reversible adiabatic
= ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ processes for an ideal gas
T ⎝ p ⎠

Lifting Processes

Orographic Lifting Frontal Lifting

p
T

Low-level convergence Vertical Mixing

 Lifting:

A dry
adiabatic
process as
long
CONDENSATION
DOES NOT
OCCUR!!
If for p 0 = 1000 mb the temperature is θ ,

R R R
T0 ⎛ p 0 ⎞ cp
θ ⎛ p0 ⎞ cp
⎛ p0 ⎞ cp
= ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ θ = T ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
T ⎝ p ⎠ T ⎝ p⎠ ⎝ p ⎠

R R R R 2
Where for dry air is = = 5 = = 0.286
cp c p cv + R 2 R + R 7

θ Potential Temperature

Temperature a parcel of gas (e.g. dry air)

would have if compressed (or expanded) in
an reversible adiabatic process from a
state, and T , to a a pressure of p 0 = 1000 mb
p

θ Also a state variable, invariant during a

reversible adiabatic process:
Conservative quantity!!!!
 Consider a
Temperature profile
with
Lapse rate Γ = 6 Ο C km -1

dT
Γ=−
dz T2 T1

p = 1000 mb ⇒ θ =T

For p < 1000 mb ⇒ θ >T Adiabatic compression

to lower the parcel

Adiabatic expansion to
p > 1000 mb ⇒ θ <T rise the parcel
Considering Water vapor

R
⎛ p0 ⎞ cp R
θ = T ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ ?? Considering water vapor
⎝ p ⎠ cp
Specific heat
for moist air
c p = (1 − q v )c pd + q v c pv ≈ c pd (1 + 0.87 q v )

d For dry air v For water vapor qv Specific humidity

And knowing
⎛ 1 + 0.608qv ⎞ R d
(from Ch. 1) R Rd
= ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ ≈ (1 − 0.26qv )
R = Rd (1+ 0.608qv ) c p c pd ⎝ 1 + 0.87qv ⎠ c pd

Rd (1− 0.26 qv )
⎛ p0 ⎞ c pd
θ = T ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ p ⎠ Potential Temperature for Moist Air
The difference between dry-air and moist
air potential temperature is generally
less than 0.1 degree.

Adiabatic expansion or compression

of moisture air can be treated as if
it were dry air

Important: θ is not Liquid to vapor

conserved if a change of
phase occurs solid to Liquid
 the temperature a parcel which
Virtual Temperature contains no moisture would have
to equal the density of a parcel
Tv at a specific temperature and
humidity.

Virtual Potential temperature a parcel at a specific

Temperature pressure level and virtual
temperature would have if it were

θv lowered or raised to 1000 mb.

Virtual Potential Temperature

Neglect the dependence on water vapor from the exponent, and

replace temperature by virtual temperature

Rd
Rd (1− 0.26 qv )
⎛ p0 ⎞ ⎛ p0 ⎞ c pd
θ v = Tv ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
c pd
θ = T ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ p ⎠ ⎝ p⎠
Adiabatic Ascent of a Parcel

T θ constant

Rate of decrease of First law for

temperature with height c p dT = vdp adiabatic
(first law, enthalpy form) process

If there are no large vertical accelerations

(hydrostatic relation applies)

− gdz = vdp c p dT = − gdz

dT g Lapse rate
Γ=− Γd = ≈ 9.8 Ο C km -1 for dry air
dz c pd

g
Γ=
c pd (1+ 0.87qv )
For moist air