Physics 111:

THERMAL PROPERTIES OF MATTER

Lecture 3: Gases

gas Laws
ideal gas law
first law of thermodynamics
the principle molar heat capacity of a gas
Cp-Cv = R for an ideal gas
Cp/Cv for an ideal monatomic gas

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 1

 Boyle's Law (Mariotte's Law), T = Constant

At constant temperature, the volume of a given quantity of gas

is inversely proportional to its pressure : V  1/P
So at constant temperature, if the volume of a gas is doubled,
its pressure is halved.
OR
At constant temperature for a given quantity of gas, the
product of its volume and its pressure is a constant : PV =
constant, PV = k
At constant temperature for a given quantity of gas :
PiVi = PfVf
where Pi is the initial (original) pressure, Vi is its initial
(original) volume, Pf is its final pressure, Vf is its final
volume
Pi and Pf must be in the same units of measurement (eg,
both in atmospheres), Vi and Vf must be in the same units
of measurement (eg, both in litres).

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 2

 Boyle’s Law cont..

pV = constant (constant temperature)

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 3

 Boyle's Law (Mariotte's Law)

All gases approximate Boyle's Law at high temperatures

and low pressures.
A hypothetical gas which obeys Boyle's Law at all
temperatures and pressures is called an Ideal Gas.
A Real Gas is one which approaches Boyle's Law
behaviour as the temperature is raised or the pressure
lowered.

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 4

Boyle's Law (Mariotte's Law)

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 5

 Boyle's Law (Mariotte's Law)
Calculations : PiVi = PfVf
(A) Certain mass of gas occupies a volume of 2.5L at 90
kPa pressure. What pressure would the gas exert if it were
placed in a 10.0L container at the same temperature?
Pi = 90 kPa Vi = 2.5L
Pf = ? Vf = 10.0L
PiVi = PfVf
90 x 2.5 = Pf x 10.0
225 = Pf x 10.0
225 ÷ 10.0 = Pf
Pf = 22.5 kPa

(B) 4.5L of gas at 125 kPa expands at constant

temperature until the pressure is 75kPa. What is the final
volume of the gas?
Pi = 125 kPa Vi = 4.5L
Pf = 75 kPa Vf = ?
PiVi = PfVf
125 x 4.5 = 75 x Vf
562.5 = 75 x Vf
Vf 562.5 ÷ 75 = 7.5L
Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 6
 Charles' Law
At constant pressure, the volume of a given quantity of gas is
directly proportional to the absolute temperature : V  T (in
Kelvin)
So at constant pressure, if the temperature (K) is
doubled, the volume of gas is also doubled.
OR
At constant pressure for a given quantity of gas, the ratio
of its volume and the absolute temperature is a constant :
V/T = constant, V/T = k
At constant pressure for a given quantity of gas : Vi/Ti = Vf/Tf
where Vi is the initial (original) volume, Ti is its initial
(original) temperature (in Kelvin), Vf is its final volume, Tf
is its final tempeature (in Kelvin)
Vi and Vf must be in the same units of measurement (eg,
both in litres), Ti and Tf must be in Kelvin NOT degree
celsius or degree Fahrenheit.
Temperature in kelvin = temperature in celsius + 273
(approximately)
Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 7
Charles’ Law cont..

V
= constant (constant pressure)
T

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 8

 Charles' Law
All gases approximate Charles' Law at high temperatures
and low pressures.
A hypothetical gas which obeys Charles' Law at all
temperatures and pressures is called an Ideal Gas.
A Real Gas is one which approaches Charles' Law as the
temperature is raised or the pressure lowered.
As a Real Gas is cooled at constant pressure from a point
well above its condensation point, its volume begins to
increase linearly.
As the temperature approaches the gas’ condensation
point, the line begins to curve (usually downward) so
there is a marked deviation from Ideal Gas behaviour
close to the condensation point.
Once the gas condenses to a liquid it is no longer a gas
and so does not obey Charles' Law at all.
Absolute zero (0K, -273 0C approximately) is the
temperature at which the volume of a gas would
become zero if it did not condense and if it behaved
ideally down to that temperature.

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 9

Charles' Law

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 10

 Charles' Law

Calculations : Vi/Ti = Vf/Tf

(a) A sample of gas at 101.3kPa had a volume of 1.2L at 100 0C. What
would its volume be at 0 0C at the same pressure? Vi =
1.2L Vf = ?
Ti = 100oC = 100 + 273 = 373K Tf = 0 0C = 0 + 273 =273K
1.2/373 = Vf/273
3.22 x 10-3 = Vf/273
Vf = 3.22 x 10-3 x 273 = 0.88L (880mL)

(b)A balloon had a volume of 75L at 25 0C. To what does the temperature
need to be raised in order for the balloon to have a volume of 100L at
the same pressure? Vi = 75L Vf = 100L
Ti = 25 0C = 25 + 273 = 298K Tf = ? (K)
Vi/Ti = Vf/Tf
75/298 = 100/Tf
0.2517 = 100/Tf
Tf = 100/0.2517 = 397K (397-273 = 124 0C)

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 11

 Gay-Lussac's Law(V=Constant) Or Pressure law

The pressure exerted by a gas held at constant volume is

directly proportional to the (absolute) temperature:

p p1 p2
= const. or = (at constant volume)
T T1 T2

This relation is named after Gay-Lussac (1802).

Do you understand why it is dangerous to throw aerosol cans
into a fire?

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 12

 Gay-Lussac’s Law

p
= constant (constant volume)
T

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 13

 Application of Gay-Lussac’s Law

The pressure-temperature relation leads to the design of a

constant-volume gas thermometer.
Extrapolation of measurements made using different gases
leads to the concept of absolute zero, when the pressure
(or volume) is zero, which brought the Kelvin Scale.

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 14

 UNDERSTANDING THE GAS LAWS

Boyles’s Law states Charles’ law states Pressure’s Law states

that for a fixed that for a fixed that for a fixed mass
mass of gas, the mass of gas, the of gas, the pressure
pressure of the gas, volume of the gas, of the gas, P is
P is inversely V is directly directly proportional
proportional to its proportional to its to its absolute
volume, V when the absolute temperature, T when
temperature, T is temperature, T its volume, V is kept
kept constant when its pressure, P constant.
is kept constant.

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 15

UNDERSTANDING THE GAS LAWS

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 16

 UNDERSTANDING THE GAS LAWS
Boyle’s Law
When the volume of a gas is
decreased, the number of
molecules per unit volume
increases.
• The same number of
molecules moves in a smaller
space.
• The molecules collide more
frequently with the walls of
the container.
• This increase in the rate of
collision results in an
increase in the pressure
exerted by the gas.
Charles’ Law
When a gas is heated, the
average kinetic energy of the
molecules increases. The
temperature of the gas
increases.
• If the gas is allowed to
expand, the faster molecules
now move in a bigger space.
• Therefore, the rate of collision
between the molecules and the
walls remains constant and thus
the pressure is constant.
Pressure’s Law
When a gas is heated, the
average kinetic energy
increases. The temperature of
the gas increases.
• The rate of collision
between the molecules and
the walls will increase if the
volume is constant.
• The faster moving molecules
strike the walls of the
container more frequently.
• Thus, the pressure of the
gas increases.
Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 17
 Combined Gas Equation

For a fixed quantity of gas in moles, Boyle's Law and

Charles' Law can be combined into one equation, the
combined gas equation:
PV/T= k (a constant)
OR
P1V1/T1= P2V2/T2
where:
P1 = initial pressure, P2 = final pressureV1 = initial
volumeV2 = final volume,T1 = initial temperature (K),
T2 = final temperature (K)

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 18

 Combined Gas Equation
Pressure Calculation
A quantity of gas occupied a volume of 1.0L at 1atm
pressure and 80oC. What pressure is required to compress
the gas to a volume of 500mL at 40oC? Organize the data
and make all the units consistent:

P1 = 1atm, P2 = ?atm, V1 = 1.0L,

V2 = 500mL = 500 x 10-3L
T1 = 80oC = 80 + 273 = 353K
T2 = 40oC = 40 + 273 = 313K

Re-arrange the combined gas equation:

P2 = (P1V1T2) /(T1V2 )

Substitute the knowns into the equation:

P2 = (1 x 1.0 x 313)/ (353 x 500 x 10-3)

Solve for P2:

P2 = 1.77atm Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 19

 Combined Gas Equation
Volume Calculation
A quantity of gas has volume of 24.5L at 101.3kPa and
298K.
What volume will this gas occupy if it is cooled to 0oC at a
pressure of 2atm? Organize the data and make all the units
consistent:

P1 = 101.3kPa = 1atm, P2 = 2atm,

V1 = 24.5L, V2 = ?L
T1 = 298K, T2 = 0oC = 0 + 273 = 273K
Re-arrange the combined gas equation:
V2 = (P1V1T2)/T1P2

Substitute the knowns into the equation:

V2 = (1 x24.5 x 273)/(298 x 2)
Solve for V2:

V2 = 11.22L Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 20

 Combined Gas Equation
Temperature Calculation
A quantity of gas has volume of 2.5L at 760mm Hg and
20oC.
If the gas is compressed to a volume of 750mL by a
pressure of 2atm what is its temperature in Kelvin?
Organize the data and make all the units consistent:

P1 = 760mmHg = 1atm, P2 = 2atm

V1 = 2.5L, V2 = 750mL = 750 x 10-3L
T1 = 20oC = 293K, T2 = ?K

Re-arrange the combined gas equation:

T2 = (P2V2T1)/ (P1V1)

Substitute the knowns into the equation:

T2 = (2 x 750 x 10-3 x 293)/ (1 x 2.5)
Solve for T2:

T2 = 175.8K
Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 21
 Ideal gas
An Ideal Gas (perfect gas)is one which obeys Boyle's Law and
Charles' Law exactly.
An Ideal Gas obeys the Ideal Gas Law (General gas equation):
PV = nRT OR PV/T= a constant
where
P= pressure
V= volume
n= moles of gas
T= temperature
R = gas constant (dependent on the units of pressure,
temperature and volume)
R = 8.314 J K-1 mol-1 if
Pressure is in pascals(Pa)
Volume is in cubic meters(m3)
Temperature is in kelvin(K)
R = 0.0821 L atm K-1 mol-1 if
Pressure is in atmospheres(atm)
Volume is in litres(L)
Temperature is in kelvin(K)

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 22

 Ideal gas

An Ideal Gas is modelled on the Kinetic Theory of Gases

which has 4 basic postulates:
Gases consist of small particles (molecules) which are
in continuous random motion
The volume of the molecules present is negligible
compared to the total volume occupied by the gas
Intermolecular forces are negligible
Pressure is due to the gas molecules colliding with the
walls of the container

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 23

 Ideal gas

Real Gases deviate from Ideal Gas Behaviour because:

at low temperatures the gas molecules have less kinetic
energy (move around less) so they do attract each
other
at high pressures the gas molecules are forced closer
together so that the volume of the gas molecules
becomes significant compared to the volume the gas
occupies
Under ordinary conditions, deviations from Ideal Gas
behaviour are so slight that they can be neglected
A gas which deviates from Ideal Gas behaviour is called a
non-ideal gas.

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 24

 Ideal gas
Consider a gas in a container of volume V, at pressure P,
and at temperature T
Equation of state
Links these quantities
Generally very complicated: but not for ideal gas

n = m/M : number of moles m=mass

M=mass of one mole
One mole contains NA= 6.022 X 1023 particles : Avogadro’s number
• Equation of state for an ideal gas

PV = nRT R is called the universal gas constant

In SI units, R =8.315 J / mol·K

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 25

 Boltzmann’s constant

In terms of the total number of particles N

PV = nRT = (N/NA ) RT

PV = N kB T

In SI units, with R = 8.315 J / mol·K, we get

kB = R/NA = 1.38 X 10-23 J/K

kB is called the Boltzmann’s constant

P, V, and T are the thermodynamics variables

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 26

 Experiments (Boyle’s law)

Manipulated: Volume of air

in a syringe
Responding: Pressure of
trapped air
Fixed : mass and
temperature of air inside
a syringe.

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 27

 Experiments (Charles’ law)

Manipulated: Temperature
of trap air
Responding: Length of air
column
Fixed : atmospheric
pressure, Mass of
trapped air
The length of the air
column, x represents the
volume of air trapped
inside the capillary tube.
The pressure of the
trapped air = atmospheric
pressure + pressure due
to the concentrated acid.

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 28

 Experiments (Pressure law)

Manipulated: Temperature
of trapped air
Responding: Pressure of
the trapped air
Fixed : Volume of air,
Mass of trapped air
The reading on the
Bourdon gauge is the
pressure of the air in the
round flask and the
thermometer reading
represents the air
temperature in the flask.

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 29

SUMMARY

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 30

 EXAMPLE-1

(a) The air in a foot pump has an initial volume of

2800 cm3 and pressure 100 kPa. The outlet of the
pump is closed and the piston pushed inwards until
the volume of the air becomes 700 cm3. What is the
pressure of the compressed air in pump.

(b) The pressure of a bubble under the sea is 120

cm Hg. When the bubble rises to the surface of the
sea, its volume becomes 25.0 cm3. Assuming that the
atmospheric pressure is 76 cm Hg, what is the
original volume of the bubble? (assuming no
temperature change)

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 31

 EXAMPLE-2

(a) A cylinder contains 200 cm3 of gas at a

temperature of 27 °C. The gas is heated until its
temperature increases by 30 °C. If the piston of
the cylinder expands under constant pressure what is
the final volume of the gas?

(b) A fixed mass of gas in an enclosed metal

container has a pressure of 2.5 x 10 Pa. If the gas
is heated from 27 °C to 87 °C calculate the pressure
of the gas.

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 32

 Lecture 3: Problem 2

A vertical cylinder of cross-

sectional area A=0.001 m2
is fitted with a tight-fitting,
frictionless piston of mass
m = 20.0 kg (see the Fig.
To the right)

If n = 0.200 moles of an
ideal gas are in the
cylinder at a temperature
of T = 350 K, what is the
height h at which the
piston is in equilibrium h = n R T/(mg + PA)
under its own weight ?
h = 1.96 m

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 33

 The First Law of Thermodynamics
The First Law of Thermodynamics is a special case of the
Law of Conservation of Energy
It takes into account changes in internal energy and
energy transfers by heat and work
Although Q and W each are dependent on the path, Q +
W is independent of the path

The First Law of Thermodynamics states that DU = Q + W

DU = Change in internal energy of the system, Q = Heat
supplied to the system ,W = Amount of work done
All quantities must have the same units of measure of
energy
One consequence =>> there must exist some quantity
known as internal energy which is determined by the
state of the system
Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 34
 Work in Thermodynamics

Work can be done on a deformable

system, such as a gas
Consider a cylinder with a moveable
piston
A force is applied to slowly compress
the gas
The compression is slow enough
for all the system to remain
essentially in thermal equilibrium
This is said to occur quasi-
statically

Therefore, the work done on the gas is W = -P DV

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 35

 Work in Thermodynamics

If work is done on the system then the final volume of the

system will be smaller than the initial volume. As such work
done on the system is positive.
If work is done by the system (say raising the piston) then
the final volume will be greater that the initial volume. As
such work done by the system is negative

Recall DU = Q + W

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 36

 Examples

970J of heat is supplied to the gas trapped in the cylinder

shown below and the volume of the gas changed from
250cm3 to 700cm3 at a constant pressure of 2.3 x 105 Pa.
What is the change in internal energy of the system of gas?

A balloon is heated very slowly, and absorbed 500kJ of

heat. It expanded against a constant pressure of the
atmosphere (101.3 kPa) and did 350kJ of work. Calculate
the change in internal energy of the system.

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 37

 Example

The change in internal energy of a system is 460J after

320J of thermal energy is supplied to the system. If the
process is done at a constant pressure of 2.30 x 103 Pa
and the initial volume of the system is 1.189m3 calculate
the final volume of the system.

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 38

 Specific Heats of Gases

The specific heats of gases are generally expressed as

molar specific heats. For a monoatomic ideal gas the
internal energy is all in the form of kinetic energy, and
kinetic theory provides the expression for that energy,
related to the kinetic temperature. The expression for the
internal energy is

U = nNAKEavg = nNA(3/2)kT = (3/2)nRT

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 39

 Heat capacity of monatomic gas

Heat capacity at a constant pressure

For a monatomic gas at a constant pressure the heat

capacity is given by:

Where n = number of moles

R (a constant) = 8.315 J / mol·K
If it’s one mole of the gas then the molar heat capacity
of a monatomic gas at a constant pressure is given by:

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 40

 Heat capacity of monatomic gas
Heat capacity at a constant volume

For a monatomic gas at a constant volume the heat

capacity is given by:

Where n = number of moles

R (a constant) = 8.315 J / mol·K

If it’s one mole of the gas then the molar heat capacity
of a monatomic gas at a constant volume is given by:

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 41

 Heat capacity of monatomic gas

Difference between the molar heat capacities of a

monatomic gas at constant pressure and volume

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 42

 Heat capacity of monatomic gas

The ratio of heat capacities of a monatomic gas at

constant pressure and volume

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 43

 Examples

If the heat capacity of a gas at a constant pressure is

124.725J/K calculate the number of moles of the gas and
the heat capacity of the gas at a constant volume.

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 44

 Recap of lectures

ideal gas law

first law of thermodynamics
the principle molar heat capacity of a gas
Cp-Cv = R for an ideal gas
Cp/Cv for an ideal monatomic gas

Physics 111: Lecture 1, Pg 45