Thermodynamics - Problem Set 8

Thermodynamic Systems and Work

Internal Energy and Thermodynamic Processes
Heat Capacities of Ideal Gases

PROBLEM 1: Find the value (including signs) of the work done on the gas in figures (a)
and (b). (Hint: The area of the plot is the work done.)

PROBLEM 2: An ideal gas absorbs 5.00 × 103 J of energy while doing 2.00 × 103 J of
work on the environment during a constant pressure process. (a) Compute the change in
the internal energy of the gas. (b) If the internal energy now drops by 4.50 × 103 J and
7.50 × 103 J is expelled from the system, find the change in volume, assuming a
constant pressure process at 1.013 × 105 Pa.

PROBLEM 3: A scientist is performing an experiment on an ideal gas. He added 870 J

of heat to 1.65 mol of an ideal gas to increase the temperature from 11 oC to 27oC at
constant pressure. While doing this, the gas does 223 J of work to its surrounding during the
expansion. (a) Calculate ∆U. (b) Calculate the ratio of heat capacities.

PROBLEM 4: When a quantity of monatomic ideal gas expands at a constant pres sure
of 4.0×104 Pa, the volume of the gas increases from 2.0×10−3 m3to 8.0×10−3 m3. What is
the internal energy of the gas? (Hint: You may use ideal gas law and C v = 3R/2.)

PROBLEM 5: The figure below represents a process involving 3.00 moles of a

monatomic ideal gas expanding from 0.100 m 3to 0.200 m3. (a) Find the work done on
the system, (b) the change in the internal energy of the system, and (c) the heat
transferred in the process.
(Hint: You may use ideal gas law to get the initial and final temperature. You may also
use Cv = 3R/2.)

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