SC1.110 : Quiz : solns.

1. Estimate

(a) the number of water molecules in your body (Assume that you are nearly all water).

Ans. Average mass of an adult body ≈ 60kg. =⇒ 60

18 = 3.3 × 103 moles= 3.3 × 103 × 6.023 × 1023 =
1000

2 × 1027 molecules ( 12 mark for correct order of magnitude : (1 − 3) × 1027 )

(b) the average rise in sea level due to thermal expansion of sea water for a temperature rise of 1.0°C (volume

of the Earth's oceans =1.37 × 109 km3 and their surface area = 361 × 106 km2 and the coecient of

thermal expansion of water= 2.1 × 10−4 K−1 .

Ans. α = 1 ∂V 1 ∆V
=⇒ ∆V ≈ αV ∆T = 2.1 × 10−4 × 1.37 × 109 = 2.9 × 105 km.


V ∂T p
≈ .
V V ∆T

2.9×105
∴ ∆h = ∆V
A
= 361×106
km= 0.8m ( 21 mark for correct order of magnitude : 0.5 − 1.5m; 1
2
mark for the

method)

If anyone assumed coecient of expansion to be linear, then α = 3 × 2.1 × 10−4 K−1 and the nal result

will be 3 × 0.8 = 2.4m. In this case, 1

2
mark will be given for order of magnitude 1.5 − 4.5 m. and 1
2

mark for the method.

2. Consider two paths for n moles of a perfect gas undergoing a change in pressure and volume, {p, V }; path

I : (1, 1) → (2, 2) on a straight line and path II : (1, 1) → (2, 1) → (2, 2)? What values will the integrals

pdV and V dp have for the two separate paths? Will the sum of the two integrals depend on the path?
R R

Explain.
(2,2) (2,2) R2 1
Ans. : path I : V2 3
( 21 mark)
R R
pdV = V dp = pdV = . 2 = 2
(1,1) (1,1) 1 0
(2,1) (2,2) (2,1) (2,2)
path II : pdV = 0 + 2 = 2( 12 mark) V dp = 1 + 0 = 1( 12 mark) ( 12 mark)
R R R R
pdV + V dp +
(1,1) (2,1) (1,1) (2,1)
2×2
pV is a state function (product of two state functions and hence d(pV )
R R R
pdV + V dp = d(pV ) = 3 :
1×1

is an exact dierential =⇒ as long as the initial and nal state are the same, the value of the integral will

be path independent ( 21 mark).

3. What is the thermodynamic denition of a perfect gas?

Ans. Molecules of a perfect gas have no interactions. ∴ no work is done on expansion. With no energy coming from anywhere
 else, ∂U
= 0(1 mark)


∂V T

(b) What is meant by thermodynamic internal pressure of a real gas?

Ans. The quantity πT = ∂U
is called thermodynamic internal pressure of a real gas. It is generally non-zero


∂V T

and represents the interactions between molecules. ( 21 mark)

The following is not required, but given here for the sake of completion :

If ∆U > 0 as ∆V > 0 isothermally when there

are attractive forces between the particles

then a plot of U against V slopes upwards and

πT > 0

4. A gas obeying the equation of state p(V  nb) = nRT is subjected to a JouleThomson expansion. Will

the temperature increase, decrease, or remain the same? Why?.

Ans. the temperature will increase(1 mark)

The equation of state implies that only repulsive interactions are taken into account. For such a gas, energy

will be released on expansion and hence the temperature will increase.(1 mark)

In the picture shown, some isotherms and adiabats are plotted? Which ones
5.
(dashed or solid) are isotherms and which are adiabats? Explain. (b) what must

be zero for an adiabatic process?

Ans. dashed lines are adiabats and solid lines are isotherms.(1 mark)

The isotherms follow pV =const =⇒ dp

dV
= p
V
and the adiabats follow pV γ =const =⇒ dp
dV
= γ Vp

∵ γ > 1, the adiabats have higher slopes; ∴ dashed lines are the adiabats.(1 mark)

The heat ow into or out of a system from or to the surroundings is zero for an adiabatic process.( 12 mark)

6. Consider a perfect gas, inside a cylinder tted with a piston, undergoing a change of state from initial state

be T, Vi to the nal state T, Vf . There are two possible paths, Path 1: free expansion against zero external

pressure; Path 2 : reversible, isothermal expansion. Calculate w, q , and ∆U for each process.

Ans. ∵ ∆U = 0 for both paths and ∆U = q + w, ∴ in each case q = −w( 21 mark).

path 1 : for free expansion, w = 0 and ∴ q = 0 too.( 21 mark)

Vf Vf 1
Path 2 : w = − ( mark).
R
pdV = −nRT ln V
=⇒ q = nRT ln V 2

2
7. A block of lead of heat capacity 1 kJ K−1 is cooled from 200 K to 100 K in two ways. (a) It is plunged into

a large liquid bath at 100 K. (b) The block is rst cooled to 150 K in one liquid bath and then to 100 K in

another bath. Calculate the total entropy changes (system+surroundings) in the two cases. What will be

the total entropy change in the limit of an innite number of intermediate baths?

Ans. The energy lost by the block of lead ows out as heat to the surroundings at the lower temperature.

To nd the entropy change for the system (lead block), we must construct a reversible path and evaluate
R Tf Tf
∆S sys = Ti
CV . dT
T
= CV ln Ti
; Tf < Ti =⇒ ∆S sys <0

The surroundings absorb heat (owing out of the system) at a constant temperature, Tf
1
R Tf
∴ ∆S surr = Tf Ti
CV .dT
R 200 R 200
(a) ∆Ssys = − 100
CV . dT
T
= −CV ln 2; ∆S surr = 1
100 100
CV .dT = CV ;

∆S tot = CV (1 − ln 2) = 0.307JK−1 ( 12 mark)

(b) ∆Stot = ∆SI + ∆SII and ∆Si = ∆Si,sys + ∆Si,surr ∀ i = I, II

R 200 R 200 R 150 R 150
∆S = −
I
150
CV . dT
T
+ 1
150 150
CV .dT ; ∆S = −
II
100
CV . dT
T
+ 1
100 100
CV .dT

∴∆S tot = −CV ln 2 + CV

3
+ CV
2
= 0.14JK−1 ( 12 mark)

With innite number of intermediate baths, the process becomes reversible, so ∆Stot = 0( 12 mark).
R 200 R 
200 R 200−δ
Not needed : Algebraically, ∆Stot = − 100 CV . T + 200−δ CV . 200−δ + 200−2δ CV . 200−2δ + · · · = 0
dT dT dT

8. . What is the maximum possible eciency of an engine operating between two thermal reservoirs, one at

100◦ C and the other at 0◦ C?

Ans. η = 1 − 273
373
= 0.27 (1 mark)

9. In a comic song by Flanders and Swann about the laws of thermodynamics, they summarize the rst law by the statement:

Heat is work and work is heat - Is that a good summary?

Ans. No.( 12 mark) Work can be converted to heat. Heat can be partially converted into heat. They are

not the same thing. Heat is related to disordered motion of molecules in matter. Work involves ordered

motion of molecules in matter.( 12 mark)