Case Study 16

Determine the change in the entropy of 1 mole of an ideal gas undergoing

expansion in a piston cylinder arrangement isothermally. The initial
pressure of the gas is 300 Kpa and the final pressure is 100 Kpa. The
piston is surrounded by atmosphere which exerts a constant pressure of
100 Kpa on the outer face of the piston. Moreover the device is always in
thermal equilibrium with the atmosphere which is at 300 K. During the
expansion process a frictional force is exerted on the piston and this force
varies in such a way that it always almost balances the net pressure force
on the piston. Thus the piston moves very slowly and experiences a
negligible acceleration. The piston and cylinders are good conductors.
Determine the entropy change of the gas, the entropy change of the
atmosphere and the total entropy change brought about by the process

When we consider the piston cylinder as our system the external force on
the system is caused by atmospheric pressure Po surrounding the
system.Work done by the system is W=PoΔV, where ΔV is given by the
ideal gas laws,
ΔV = V2- V1
= RT/P2 – RT/P1
= RT(P1-P2)
P1P2
Thus W = PoRT(P1-P2)
P1P2
However Po =P2

W = RT(P1-P2)
P1
Since the process is isothermal ΔU = 0
By 1st law of thermodynamics,
W= Q and Qsurr = -Q = -W

ΔS surr = Qsurr/T = -W/T = -R(P1-P2)

P1
= - R (300-100)
300
= -0.666 R = -5.542 KJ/mol°K
Entropy change of the gas is given by equation(1.11), which for contant T
is
ΔS = - R ln(P2/P1) = - R ln(100/300) = 9.133 KJ/mol°K

The total entropy change is therefore ΔStotal = ΔS + ΔSsurr = 9.133-5.542

= 3.59 KJ/mol °K
[Calculation of change in entropy of a gas undergoing expansion in
a piston cylinder apparatus isothermally.]