1.

(a) Applying the equation for root-mean-square speed with the molar mass of
hydrogen being 2.02 x 10-3 kg/mol, we have

(b) When the surfaces of the spheres that represent an H 2 molecule and an Ar atom are
touching, the distance between their centers is the sum of their radius:

(c) The argon atoms are essentially at rest so in time t the hydrogen atom collides with
all the argon atoms in a cylinder of radius d, and length vt, where v is its speed. That
is, the number of collisions is d2vtN/V, where N/V is the concentration of argon
atoms. The number of collisions per unit time is

2.
The internal energy is

3.

For any process that is depicted as a straight line on the pV diagram, the work is

which includes, as special cases, W = pV for constant-pressure processes and W = 0

for constant-volume processes. Applying the equations for internal energy and degree
of freedom, we have
where we have used the ideal gas law in the last step. We emphasize that, in order to
obtain work and energy in joules, pressure should be in pascals (N/m2) and volume
should be in cubic meters. The degrees of freedom for a diatomic gas is f = 5.
(a) The internal energy change is

(b) The work done during the process represented by the diagonal path is

which yields Wdiag = 7.0×103 J. Consequently, the first law of thermodynamics gives

(c) The fact that Eint only depends on the initial and final states, and not on the details
of the “path” between them, means we can write Eint = Eint c - Eint a = -5.0x103 J for
the indirect path, too. In this case, the work done consists of that done during the
constant pressure part (the horizontal line in the graph) plus that done during the
constant volume part (the vertical line):

Now, the first law of thermodynamics leads to

4.
The molar specific heat at constant volume for a gas is given by as CV = Eint / nT.
Our system consists of three non-interacting gases.
When the temperature changes by T the internal energy of the first gas changes by
n1CV1T, the internal energy of the second gas changes by n2CV2T, and the internal
energy of the third gas changes by n3CV3T. The change in the internal energy of the
composite gas is

This must be (n1 + n2 + n3) CVT, where CV is the molar specific heat of the mixture.
Thus,

With n1=2.40 mol, CV1=12.0 J/mol·K for gas 1, n2=1.50 mol, CV2=12.8 J/mol·K for gas
2, and n3=3.20 mol, CV3=20.0 J/mol·K for gas 3, we obtain
for the mixture.

5.
We have

Dividing the equations, we obtain

Thus, the given value Q = 70 J leads to Eint = 50 J.

6.
(a) With M = 32.0 g/mol, we have

(b) This is a constant pressure process with a diatomic gas. We note that a change of
Kelvin temperature is numerically the same as a change of Celsius degrees.

(c) From (b) we have:

7.
1
(a) Assumed the gas to obey the ideal gas law, we use Vf / Vi = .
2

which yields pf = (2.46)(1.0 atm) = 2.46 atm.

(b) Similarly,

(c) We use the gas law in ratio form and note that when p1 = p2 then the ratio of
volumes is equal to the ratio of (absolute) temperatures. Consequently, with the
subscript 1 referring to the situation (of small volume, high pressure, and high
temperature) the system is in at the end of part (a), we obtain

The volume V1 is half the original volume of one liter, so

8.
Since the process is adiabatic:
piVi = pfVf.
TiVi-1 = TfVf-1
piVi = pfVf  (Vi/Vf)  = pf/pi = 5  Vi/Vf = ❑√ 5
Tf = Ti(Vi/Vf)-1

With  = 4/3, which gives (1-)/ = -1/4, the temperature at the end of the adiabatic
expansion is: 186K = -87°C

9.

Since Eint does not depend on the type of process,

Also, since (for an ideal gas) it only depends on the temperature variable (so Eint =
nCvT = 0 for
isotherms), then
Finally, since Q = 0 for adiabatic processes, then (for path 1)

Therefore, (Eint)path 2 = -40J + 25J = -15J .

10.
Considering an adiabatic process, we have:
PVγ = const  Vf = ….
PVγ = PiViγ  P = PiViγ/V

We have  = 7/5 and Pf/Pi = 2. Converting the initial pressure to pascals we find PiVi =
24240 J. Plugging in, then, we obtain W = -1.33 x 104 J.

11.

3
In the following, monatomic gas: CV = R is the molar specific heat at constant
2
5
volume, CP = R is the molar specific heat at constant pressure, T is the temperature
2
change, and n is the number of moles.
The process 12 takes place at constant volume.
(a) The heat added is
(b) Since the process takes place at constant volume: W = 0, and the first law of
thermodynamics tells us that the change in the internal energy is

(c) The work W done by the gas is zero.

The process 23 is adiabatic.
(d) Q =0.
(e) The change in the internal energy is

(f) According to the first law of thermodynamics the work done by the gas is

The process 31 takes place at constant pressure.

(g) The heat added is

(h) The change in the internal energy is

(i) According to the first law of thermodynamics the work done by the gas is

(j) For the entire process the heat added is

(k) The change in the internal energy is

(l) The work done by the gas is

(m) We first find the initial volume. Use the ideal gas law p1V1 = nRT1 to obtain

(n) Since 12 is a constant volume process, V2 = V1 = 2.46 x 10–2 m3. The pressure for
state 2 is

This is approximately equal to 2.00 atm.

(o) 31 is a constant pressure process. The volume for state 3 is

(p) The pressure for state 3 is the same as the pressure for state 1: p3 = p1 = 1.013 x 105
Pa (1.00 atm)

MCQs
1. For an ideal diatomic gas:
a. Cv = 20.8 J/mol.K
b. Cv = 28.5 J/mol.K
c. Cv = 20.8 J/K
d. Cv = 25.5 J/K
ANSWER: A

2. A diatomic gas, compressed isobarically, did 42 J of work. Which was the amount
of heat given to the gas during such process?
a. 147 J
b. 137 J
c. 127 J
d. 117 J
ANSWER: A

Cp
6. For a diatomic gas, the value of γ = is:
Cv
9
a.
7
7
b.
5
5
c.
3
5
d.
7
ANSWER: B

3. 1.80 mol of an ideal gas is taken from a volume of 3.00 m3 to a volume of 1.50 m3
via an isothermal compression at 30oC. How much energy is transferred as heat during
the compression?
a. – 3140 J
b. – 3.14 J
c. – 314 J
d. – 31.4 J
ANSWER: A

4. The adiabatic relation between volume and temperature of an ideal gas is:
a. Vγ-1 T = constant
b. V1+γ Tγ = constant
c. V1-γ Tγ+1 = constant
d. V1-γ Tγ-1 = constant
ANSWER: A

5. Which of the following statements is correct

a. Cp can never be less than Cv
b. Cp Cv in some specific cases
c. Cp may be less than Cv depending on the gas
d. Cp may be equal to or less than Cv
ANSWER: A

7. The work done by an adiabatic expansion is written as:

a. W =0
P2 V 2−P1 V 1
b. W=
γ −1
P1
c. W =P2 V 2 ln ⁡( )
P2
P2 V 2−P1 V 1
d. W=
1−γ
ANSWER: D

γ γ γ γ
p V =constant for adiabatic process  p = K /V where K = p1 V 1 = p2 V 2
V2 V2 γ
K K 1 1 p V P V −P1 V 1
W =∫ pdV = ∫ dV = ¿ - γ −1 ) ¿ ¿ - 1 γ−11 ) = 2 2 )
V1 V1 V
γ
1−γ V1 1−γ V1 1−γ

th
1
8. A monatomic gas is suddenly compressed to ( ) of its initial volume
8
adiabatically. The ratio of its final pressure to the initial pressure is
a. 32
b. 8
1
c.
32
1
d.
8
Answer: A
γ
γ γ P1 1 5
p1 V 1 = p2 V 2  = ( ) , with γ = for a monatomic gas P1/P2 = 32
P2 8 3

9. One mole of a monoatomic ideal gas is mixed with one mole of a diatomic ideal
gas. The molar specific heat of the mixture at constant volume is:
a. R
b. 2R
c. 0.5 R
d. 4R

Answer: B
1∗3 1∗5
R+ R
Cv = n 1Cv 1+ n2 Cv 2 2 2
= =2 R
n1+ n2 2

Cp
10. A gaseous mixture consists of 16g of Helium and 16g of Oxygen. The ratio of
Cv
the mixture is:
a. 1.4
b. 1.54
c. 1.59
d. 1.62

Answer: D
n 1Cv 1+ n2 Cv 2
Cv =
n1+ n2

nHe = 16/4 = 4 mol, nO2 = 16/32 = 0.5 mol, Cv(He) = 3/2R, Cv(O2) = 5/2R