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Physics 157 Homework 6

This homework assignment focuses on calculating the efficiency of heat engines by analyzing thermodynamic processes using concepts like work, heat, internal energy, and the first law of thermodynamics. Students are asked to [1] calculate the net work done in a cyclic process, [2] identify which parts of a cycle involve heat flowing into or out of the system, and [3] calculate efficiency given a process description or PV diagram. The document reviews relevant formulas for ideal gases, work, heat, internal energy, and efficiency and provides two practice problems to work through.

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Sherin Hamid
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54 views5 pages

Physics 157 Homework 6

This homework assignment focuses on calculating the efficiency of heat engines by analyzing thermodynamic processes using concepts like work, heat, internal energy, and the first law of thermodynamics. Students are asked to [1] calculate the net work done in a cyclic process, [2] identify which parts of a cycle involve heat flowing into or out of the system, and [3] calculate efficiency given a process description or PV diagram. The document reviews relevant formulas for ideal gases, work, heat, internal energy, and efficiency and provides two practice problems to work through.

Uploaded by

Sherin Hamid
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Physics 157 Homework 6

In this homework set, you’ll get more practice analyzing thermodynamic processes, with a
focus on calculating the efficiency of heat engines. In addition to the goals from last week, we
want you to be able:

 To calculate the net work done in a cyclic process


 To identify which in which parts of a cyclic thermodynamic process heat is flowing in to the
system, and in which parts heat is flowing out.
 To calculate the efficiency of a heat engine, given a description of the thermodynamics
processes associated with it, or a depiction of the cycle on a PV-diagram

A summary of the formulae you may need:

Ideal gas law: P V = n R T or P1 V1 / T1 = P2 V2 / T2 if n is constant.


Work: W = P ΔV (constant pressure) or area under curve on P-V diagram. Positive for
expansion, negative for compression.
Internal energy: ΔU = n Cv ΔT
Heat: Q = ΔU + W (First Law of Thermodynamics)
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Constant volume: T/P is constant, W = 0 so Q = ΔU
Constant pressure: T/V is constant, W = P ΔV , Q = n Cp ΔT where Cp = Cv + R
Constant temperature: PV is constant, ΔU = 0, so Q = W. W = n R T ln(Vf/Vi),
Adiabatic: Q = 0, P Vγ = constant, T Vγ-1 = constant where γ = Cp/CV, W = -ΔU
_________________________________________________________________________
Efficiency of an engine: e = Wnet / Qin where Qin is the sum of all positive contributions to
Q
__________________________________________________________________________

Part 1: Do the mastering physics assignment


Part 2: Do the written question on the next page and hand it in via Gradescope
See next page for old midterm problems (not to be handed in). You can ignore the parts
about entropy for now.

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