Activity 2

Thermodynamics

Name:_____________________________ Student ID:_______________ Date:________

______________________________ _______________

1. A piston-cylinder arrangement, as shown in the following figure, contains air at 250 kPa and
300°C. The 50 kg piston has a diameter of 0.1 m and initially pushes against the stops. The
atmosphere is at 100 kPa and 20°C. The cylinder now cools as heat is transferred to the ambient
surroundings.

a. At what temperature does the piston begin to

move down?
b. How far has the piston dropped when the
temperature reaches ambient?
c. Show the process in a P–v diagram.

2. A tank contains helium at 37°C and 140 kPa gauge. The helium is heated in a process by heat
transfer from the surroundings such that the helium reaches a final equilibrium state at 200°C.
Determine the final gauge pressure of the helium. Assume atmospheric pressure is 100 kPa.

3. Which of the following is more efficient: boiling 20 litres of water using an electric stove or using
a gas stove? What is the cheapest option?

4. An insulated piston–cylinder device initially contains 1.8 kg of saturated liquid water at 120°C.
Now an electric resistor placed in the cylinder is turned on for 15 min until the volume quadruples.
Determine (a) the volume of the cylinder, (b) the final temperature, and (c) the electrical power
rating of the resistor.