Problem Set #1

ME 5/7371, Spring 2022

Assigned: W, 2-2-22
Due: W, 2-9-22 (in class)

Completion Problems (5 points for completing all problems):

Problems from Anderson: 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6

Graded Problems (20 points total):

1. Helium is stored in a closed container at 100 kPa and 300K. The volume of the
container is suddenly changed (irreversibly) from 0.2 m3 to 0.1 m3. This process
causes the temperature of the helium to increase, but then it cools back down to 300K
as the gas in the container comes into thermal equilibrium with the surroundings.
When the helium reaches the final temperature of 300K, determine the final pressure
of the gas, and the total entropy change of the gas (extensive). Is there an isentropic
process that results in the same final state for the gas (explain your answer)? Assume
calorically perfect gas behavior and that the molecular weight and ratio of specific
heats for helium are given by M = 4.002 kg/kmol and 𝛾 = 1.667, respectively.

2. Classical statistical mechanics (determining thermodynamic results based on

statistical considerations of the molecules comprising the system) gives a simple
expression for 𝑐𝑝 , namely,

𝑛+2
𝑐𝑝 = 𝑅
2

where 𝑛 is the number of “degrees of freedom” of the motion of the molecules in the
system. For example, simple monatomic gasses like He and Ar may be approximated
as spheres, which have 𝑛 = 3 (one for each direction of linear motion). Simple
diatomic molecules like O2 and N2 may be approximated as dumbbells, which have 𝑛
= 5 at non-cryogenic temperatures below about 1000K (3 for each direction of linear
motion and 2 for rotation about axes perpendicular to the dumbbell axis).

(a) Using this result, show that the theoretical value of the ratio of specific heats, 𝛾,
7
for air is = 1.4. What is the expected value of 𝛾 for a monatomic gas like Ar?
5
(b) As temperature increases, the molecules become more “flexible”, so a rigid
dumbbell model is no longer accurate for diatomic molecules at high temperature.
A schematic of a typical plot of 𝑐𝑝 /𝑅 for a diatomic gas for non-cryogenic
temperatures (> 100𝐾) is shown in Figure 1 below. Based on this plot, how
many degrees of freedom do the gas molecules have for 𝑇 ≫ 1000𝐾? What is
the associated value of 𝛾? What additional degrees of freedom do you think
might be activated at higher temperatures? If a gas molecule were very complex
(lots of atoms), what would its value of 𝛾 approach for large 𝑇?

ME 5/7371 Krueger Spring 2022

 𝑐𝑝
𝑅
5

𝑇 (𝐾)
100 1000

Figure 1

ME 5/7371 Krueger Spring 2022