Experiment 6

Determination of specific heat ratio of air

based on Clement Desorme's method
Equipment and Materials:

1. Lage glass bottle;

2. U-shpe water manometer;
3. Rubber ball pump;
4. Gas valves
5. Support stand.

Objective
To determine the specific heat ratio
γ = Cp/Cv for air.

1. Background
A method of determining gamma, the ratio of
the specific heat capacities at constant pressure
and constant volume of an ideal gas was 2
M
proposed by Clement Desormes. The method
consists of a large flask and a water manometer 1 1
as shown in Fig.1. In this case air is considered H
to be the ideal gas that would undergo a quasi- B
static adiabatic expansion from state 1 to state 2,
followed by a constant volume process from A
state 2 to state 3 as illustrated in Fig.2.
Indeed, when the flask is closed, a mass of dry
air of volume Vo at atmospheric pressure Po (as
indicated by a zero height difference on the G
manometer) is enclosed. When air is slowly
pumped into the flask, an additional volume Fig.1. Clement Desorme’s experiment
which had been outside the flask is now
compressed inside the flask. The pressure in the
flask is increased to P1 and the volume the gas
occupied is reduced to V1.
The manometer now indicates a height
difference which is related to the pressure
change:
P1 = Po + ρg H (1)
ρ is the density of the liquid in the manometer.
When the lid K2 of the flask is quickly opened
and closed, the extra air is allowed to escape and
the pressure returns momentarily to atmospheric.
The ideal gas is allowed to expand adiabatically
then at this moment the pressure P2 = Po, T2 is
less than To and the volume is V2. Since PVγ = Fig.2. P-V diagram of thermodynamic processes
const along an adiabatic process, then occurred in Clement Desorme’s experiment
 P1 V1 γ = P2 V2 γ (2)
After just some minutes, gas is warmed up slowly at constant volume, that is T3 = To, V3 = V2, and
the pressure has increased to P3.
The new pressure P3 is given by:
P 3 = Po + ρ g h (3)
Since PV = consst along an isotherm:
Po Vo = P1 V1 = P3 V3 (4)
Where V2 = V3, the volume of the flask Combining equations (2) and (4) and taking the natural log
of both sides we obtain: (Hint: divide (2) by P2 which equals Po and find the ratio of pressures to
volumes from equation (4).)
ln(P1/ Po) = γ ln(P1/P3) (5)
In terms of the variables measure in lab, then we have:
ln[1 + (ρg H /Po)] = γ {ln[1 + ( ρg H /Po)] - ln[1 + ( ρg h /Po)]} (6)
If ρg h /Po is small compared to one, then we can make an approximation. When x << 1, we have
ln(1+x) ~ x. Then equation (6) becomes:
H ~ γ (H - h) (7)
Or γ can be simply determined by equation:
H
γ = . (8)
H −h
2. Procedure

• Set up the equipment as shown in the diagram in Fig.1.

• Make a Data Table consisting of 5 columns.
• Add air to the flask by pumping using the rubber ball. Close the clamp and measure the
height difference in the manometer H. Waite a while (about 5 min) until the temperature
inside and outside of the flask is equal, then record this value in the second column of the
data table.
• Open another clamp to let the air out of the flask. In this step observe carefully the level of
two water columns, when they have the same height then must close the clamp at once.
• Allow the system to warm up until the manometer indicates no further change in pressure.
Read and record the positions of water level in pipes – l1 and l2 shown by the manometer
as well as the height difference h in the third, fourth and fifth column in the data table,
repectively.
• Repeat these steps for a total of 10 times and record the corresponding values of H, h1, h2
and Δh in the same data table as suggested above
Note: the value of H should be kept constant during experiment.

3. Analysis:

- Calculate the ratio γ and fulfill the report.

- Your analysis to determine gamma consists of two graphs. The first using the exact relationship
from equation (6) and the second graphing the approximation (7) and (8). From your graph,
determine the value of the ratio γ. Compare the obtained values from experimental results (both
i+2
calculation and graph) to the value of this ratio for dry air such that γ = where i the Degree
i
of Freedom (DOF) of ideal gas (in this case it is air).