The SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACADEMY

PHYSICS-II HEAT & THERMODYNMICS CHAPTER-11.2

1. A real gas is changed slowly from state 1 to state 2. During this process no work is done
on or by the gas. This process must be:
A. isothermal B. adiabatic C. isochoric
D. isobaric E. a closed cycle with state 1 coinciding with state 2 ans: C

2. A given mass of gas is enclosed in a suitable container so that it may be maintained at

constant volume. Under these conditions, there can be no change in what property of
the gas?
A. Pressure B. Density C. Molecular kinetic energy
D. Internal energy E. Temperature ans: B

3. A quantity of an ideal gas is compressed to half its initial volume. The process may be
adiabatic, isothermal, or isobaric. Rank those three processes in order of the work
required of an external agent, least to greatest.
A. adiabatic, isothermal, isobaric B. adiabatic, isobaric, isothermal
C. isothermal, adiabatic, isobaric D. isobaric, adiabatic, isothermal
E. isobaric, isothermal, adiabatic ans: E

4. In order that a single process be both isothermal and isobaric:

A. one must use an ideal gas B. such a process is impossible
C. a change of phase is essential D. one may use any real gas such as N2
E. one must use a solid ans: C

5. Over 1 cycle of a cyclic process in which a system does net work on its environment:
A. the change in the pressure of the system cannot be zero
B. the change in the volume of the system cannot be zero
C. the change in the temperature of the system cannot be zero
D. the change in the intern l energy of the system cannot be zero
E. none of the above ans: E

6. Evidence that molecules of a gas are in constant motion is:

A. winds exert pressure B. two gases inter diffuse quickly
C. warm air rises D. energy as heat is needed to vaporize a liquid
E. gases are easily compressed ans: B

7. According to the kinetic theory of gases, the pressure of a gas is due to:
A. change of kinetic energy of molecules as they strike the wall
B. change of momentum of molecules as the strike the wall
C. average kinetic energy of the molecules
D. force of repulsion between the molecules
E. rms speed of the molecules ans: B

8. The force on the walls of a vessel of a contained gas is due to:

A. the repulsive force between gas molecules
B. a slight loss in the speed of a gas molecule during a collision with the wall
C. a change in momentum of a gas molecule during a collision with the wall
D. elastic collisions between gas molecules
E. inelastic collisions between gas molecules ans: C

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 The SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACADEMY
PHYSICS-II HEAT & THERMODYNMICS CHAPTER-11.2
9. Air is pumped into a bicycle tire at constant temperature. The pressure increases because:
A. more molecules strike the tire wall per second
B. the molecules are larger
C. the molecules are farther apart
D. each molecule is moving faster
E. each molecule has more kinetic energy ans: A

10. The temperature of a gas is most closely related to:

A. the kinetic energy of translation of its molecules
B. its total molecular kinetic energy
C. the sizes of its molecules
D. the potential energy of its molecules
E. the total energy of its molecules ans: A

11. The temperature of low pressure hydrogen is reduced from 100◦ C to 20◦ C. The rms
speed of its molecules decreases by approximately:
A. 80% B. 89% C. 46%
D. 21% E. 11% ans: E

12. The mass of an oxygen molecule is 16 times that of a hydrogen molecule. At room
temperature, the ratio of the rms speed of an oxygen molecule to that of a hydrogen
molecule is:
A. 16 B. 4 C. 1
D. 1/4 E. 1/16 ans: D

13. The rms speed of an oxygen molecule at 0◦ C is 460 m/s. If the molar mass of oxygen is
32 g and that of helium is 4 g, then the rms speed of a helium molecule at 0◦ C is:
A. 230 m/s B. 326 m/s C. 650 m/s
D. 920 m/s E. 1300 m/s ans: E

14. If the molecules in a tank of hydrogen have the same rms speed as the molecules in a tank
of oxygen, we may be sure that:
A. the pressures are the same
B. the hydrogen is at the higher temperature
C. the hydrogen is at the greater pressure
D. the temperatures are the same
E. the oxygen is at the higher temperature ans: E

15. Five molecules have speeds of 2.8, 3.2, 5.8, 7.3, and 7.4 m/s. Their root-mean-square
speed is closest to:
A. 5.3 m/s B. 5.7 m/s C. 7.3 m/s
D. 28 m/s E. 32 m/s ans: B

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 The SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACADEMY
PHYSICS-II HEAT & THERMODYNMICS CHAPTER-11.2
16. The speeds of 25 molecules are distributed as follows: 5 in the range from 2 to 3 m/s, 10
in the range from 3 to 4 m/s, 5 in the range from 4 to 5 m/s, 3 in the range from 5 to 6
m/s, 1 in the range from 6 to 7 m/s, and 1 in the range from 7 to 8 m/s. Their average
speed is about:
A. 2 m/s B. 3 m/s C. 4 m/s
D. 5 m/s E. 6 m/s ans: C

17. The internal energy of an ideal gas depends on:

A. the temperature only B. the pressure only
C. the volume only D. the temperature and pressure only
E. temperature, pressure, and volume ans: A

18. An ideal gas of N diatomic molecules has temperature T . If the number of molecules is
doubled without changing the temperature, the internal energy increases by:
A. 0 B. (1/2)NkT C. (3/2)NkT
D. (5/2)NkT E. 3NkT ans: D

19. Both the pressure and volume of an ideal gas of diatomic molecules are doubled. The
ratio of the new internal energy to the old, both m asur d relative to the internal energy
at 0 K, is
A. 1/4 B. 1/2 C. 1
D. 2 E. 4 ans: E

20. The pressure of an ideal gas of diatomic molecules is doubled by halving the volume.
The ratio of the new internal energy to the old, both measured relative to the internal
energy at 0 K, is:
A. 1/4 B. 1/2 C. 1
D. 2 E. 4 ans: C

21. When work W is done on an ideal gas of N diatomic molecules in thermal isolation the
temperature increases by:
A. W/2Nk B. W/3Nk C. 2W/3Nk
D. 2W/5Nk E. W/Nk ans: D

22. As the pressure in an ideal gas is increased isothermally the average molecular speed:
A. increases B. decreases
C. increases at high temperature, decreases at low
D. decreases at high temperature, increases at low
E. stays the same ans: E

23. As the volume of an ideal gas is increased at constant pressure the average molecular
speed:
A. increases
B. decreases
C. increases at high temperature, decreases at low
D. decreases at high temperature, increases at low
E. stays the same ans: A
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 The SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACADEMY
PHYSICS-II HEAT & THERMODYNMICS CHAPTER-11.2
24. Two ideal monatomic gases are in thermal equilibrium with each other. Gas A is
composed of molecules with mass m while gas B is composed of molecules with mass
4m. The ratio of the average molecular speeds vA/vB is:
A. ¼ B. ½ C. 1
D. 2 E. 4 ans: D

25. Ideal monatomic gas A is composed of molecules with mass m while ideal monatomic
gas B is composed of molecules with mass 4m. The average molecular speeds are the
same if the ratio of the temperatures TA/TB is:
A. ¼ B. ½ C. 1
D. 2 E. 4 ans: A

26. Two monatomic ideal gases are in thermal equilibrium with each other. Gas A is
composed of molecules with mass m while gas B is composed of molecules with mass
4m. The ratio of the average translational kinetic energies KA/KB is:
A. 1/4 B. 1/2 C, 1
D. 2 E. 4 ans: C

27. Ideal monatomic gas A is composed of molecules with mass m while ideal monatomic
gas B is composed of molecules with mass 4m. The average translational kinetic
energies are the same if the ratio of the temperatures TA/TB is:
A. ¼ B. ½ C. 1
D. 2 E. 4 ans: C

28. Which of the following change when the pressure of an ideal gas is changed
isothermally?
A. Mean free path B. Root-mean-square molecular speed
C. Internal energy D. Most probable kinetic energy
E. Average speed ans: A

29. When an ideal gas undergoes a slow isothermal expansion:

A. the work done by the gas is the same as the energy absorbed as heat
B. the work done by the environment is the same as the energy absorbed as heat
C. the increase in internal energy is the same as the energy absorbed as heat
D. the increase in internal energy is the same as the work done by the gas
E. the increase in internal energy is the same as the work done by the environment
ans: A

30. The pressure of an ideal gas is doubled during a process in which the energy given up as
heat by the gas equals the work done n the gas. As a result, the volume is:
A. doubled B. halved C. unchanged
D. four times E. the process is impossible ans: B

31. The energy absorbed as heat by an ideal gas for an isothermal process equals:
A. the work done by the gas B. the work done on the gas
C. the change in the internal energy of the gas
D. the negative of the change in internal energy of the gas
E. zero since the process is isothermal ans: A

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 The SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACADEMY
PHYSICS-II HEAT & THERMODYNMICS CHAPTER-11.2
32. An ideal gas has molar specific heat Cp at constant pressure. When the temperature of n
moles is increased by ∆T the increase in the internal energy is:
A. nCp ∆T B. n(Cp + R) ∆T C. n(Cp − R) ∆T
D. n(2Cp + R) ∆T E. n(2Cp − R) ∆T ans: C

33. The heat capacity at constant volume of an ideal gas depends on:
A. the temperature B. the pressure C. the volume
D. the number of molecules E. none of the above ans: D

34. The specific heat at constant volume of an ideal gas depends on:
A. the temperature B. the pressure C. the volume
D. the number of molecules E. none of the above ans: E

35. The difference between the molar specific heat at constant pressure and the molar
specific heat at constant volume for an ideal gas is:
A. the Boltzmann constant k B. the universal gas constant R
C. the Avogadro constant NA D. kT
E. RT ans: B

36. An ideal monatomic gas has a molar specific heat Cv at constant volume of:
A. R B. 3R/2 C. 5R/2
D. 7R/2 E. 9R/2 ans: B

37. The ratio of the specific heat of a gas at constant volume to its specific heat at constant
pressure is:
A. 1 B. less than 1 C. more than 1
D. has units of pressure/volume E. has units of volume/pressure ans: B

38. The ratio of the specific heat of an ideal gas at constant volume to its specific heat at
constant pressure is:
A. R B. 1/R
C. dependent on the temperature
D. dependent on the pressure
E. different for monatomic, diatomic, and polyatomic gases ans: E
39. Consider the ratios of the heat capacities γ = Cp/Cv for the three types of ideal gases:
monatomic, diatomic, and polyatomic.
A. γ is the greatest for monatomic gases B. γ is the greatest for polyatomic gases
C. γ is the same only for diatomic and polyatomic gases
D. γ is the same only for monatomic a d diatomic gases
E. γ is the same for all three ans: A

40. The mean free path of a gas molecule is:

A. the shortest dimension of the containing vessel
B. the cube root of the volume of the containing vessel
C. approximately the diameter of a molecule
D. average distance between adjacent molecules
E. average distance a molecule travels between intermolecular collisions ans: E

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 The SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACADEMY
PHYSICS-II HEAT & THERMODYNMICS CHAPTER-11.2
41. The mean free path of molecules in a gas is:
A. the average distance a molecule travels before escaping
B. the average distance a molecule travels between collisions
C. the greatest distance a molecule travels between collisions
D. the shortest distance a molecule travels between collisions
E. the average distance a molecule travels before splitting apart ans: B

42. If the temperature T of an ideal gas is increased at constant pressure the mean free path:
A. decreases in proportion to 1/T B. decreases in proportion to 1/T2
C. increases in proportion to T D. increases in proportion to T 2
E. does not change ans: C

43. Possible units of entropy are:

A. J B. J/K C. J−1
D. liter·atm E. cal/mol ans: B

44. Which of the following is NOT a state variable?

A. Work B. Internal energy C. Entropy
D. Temperature E. Pressure ans: A

45. The change in entropy is zero for:

A. reversible adiabatic processes
B. reversible isothermal processes
C. reversible processes during which no work is done
D. reversible isobaric processes
E. all adiabatic processes ans: A

46. Which of the following processes leads to a change in entropy of zero for the system
undergoing the process?
A. Non-cyclic isobaric (constant pressure)
B. Non-cyclic isochoric (constant volume)
C. Non-cyclic isothermal (constant temperature)
D. Any closed cycle
E. None of these ans: D

47. Rank, from smallest to largest, the changes in entropy of a pan of water on a hot plate,
as the temperature of the water
1. goes from 20◦ C to 30◦ C 2. goes from 30◦ C to 40◦ C
3. goes from 40◦ C to 45◦ C 4. goes from 80◦ C to 85◦ C
A. 1, 2, 3, 4 B. 4, 3, 2, 1 C. 1 and 2 tie, then 3 and 4 tie
D. 3 and 4 tie, then 1 and 2 tie E. 4, 3, 2, 1 ans: E

48. An ideal gas expands into vacuum in a rigid vessel. As a result there is:
A. a change in entropy B. an increase of pressure
C. a change in temperature D. a decrease of internal energy
E. a change in phase ans: A

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 The SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACADEMY
PHYSICS-II HEAT & THERMODYNMICS CHAPTER-11.2
49. Consider all possible isothermal contractions of an ideal gas. The change in entropy of
the gas:
A. is zero for all of them B. does not decrease for any of them
C. does not increase for any of them D. increases for all of them
E. decreases for all of them ans: E

50. For all adiabatic processes:

A. the entropy of the system does not change
B. the entropy of the system increases
C. the entropy of the system decreases
D. the entropy of the system does not increase
E. the entropy of the system does not decrease ans: E

51. For all reversible processes involving a system and its environment:
A. the entropy of the system does not change
B. the entropy of the system increases
C. the total entropy of the system and its environment does not change
D. the total entropy of the system and its environment increases
E. none of the above ans: C

52. For all irreversible processes involving a system and its environment:
A. the entropy of the system does not change
B. the entropy of the system increases
C. the total entropy of the system and its environment does not change
D. the total entropy of the system and its environment increases
E. none of the above ans: D

53. According to the second law of thermodynamics:

A. heat energy cannot be completely converted to work
B. work cannot be completely converted to heat energy
C. for all cyclic processes we have dQ/T < 0
D. the reason all heat engine efficiencies are less than 100% is friction, which is
unavoidable
E. all of the above are true ans: A

54. Consider the following processes:

I. Energy flows as heat from a hot object to a colder object
II. Work is done on a system and an equivalent amount of energy is rejected as heat by
the system
III. Energy is absorbed as heat by a system and an equivalent amount of work is done by system
Which are never found to occur?
A. Only I B. Only II C. Only III
D. Only II and III E. I, II, and III ans: C

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 The SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACADEMY
PHYSICS-II HEAT & THERMODYNMICS CHAPTER-11.2
55. In a thermally insulated kitchen, an ordinary refrigerator is turned on and its door is left
open. The temperature of the room:
A. remains constant according to the first law of thermodynamics
B. increases according to the first law of thermodynamics
C. decreases according to the first aw of thermodynamics
D. remains constant according to the second law of thermodynamics
E. increases according to the second law of thermodynamics ans: B

56. The temperatures TC of the cold reservoirs and the temperatures TH of the hot
reservoirs for four Carnot heat engines are
engine 1: TC = 400 K and TH = 500 K
engine 2: TC = 500 K and TH = 600 K
engine 3: TC = 400 K and TH = 600 K
engine 4: TC = 600 K and TH = 800 K
Rank these engines according to their efficiencies, least to greatest
A. 1, 2, 3, 4 B. 1 and 2 tie, then 3 and 4 tie
C. 2, 1, 3, 4 D. 1, 2, 4, 3 E. 2, 1, 4, 3 ans: E

57. A Carnot heat engine runs between a cold reservoir at temperature TC and a hot
reservoir at temperature TH . You want to increase its efficiency. Of the following,
which change results in the greatest increase in efficiency? The value of ∆T is the same
for all changes.
A. Raise the temperature of the hot reservoir by ∆T
B. Raise the temperature of the cold reservoir by ∆T
C. Lower the temperature of the hot reservoir by ∆T
D. Lower the temperature of the cold reservoir by ∆T
E. Lower the temperature of the hot reservoir by ½ ∆T and raise the temperature of the
cold reservoir by ½ ∆T ans: D

58. A certain heat engine draws 500 cal/s from a water bath at 27◦ C and transfers 400 cal/s
to a reservoir at a lower temperature. The efficiency of this engine is:
A. 80% B. 75% C. 55%
D. 25% E. 20% ans: E

59. A heat engine that in each cycle does positive work and loses energy as heat, with no
heat energy input, would violate:
A. the zeroth law of thermodynamics B. the first law of thermodynamics
C. the second law of thermodynamics D. the third law of thermodynamics
E. Newton’s second law ans: B

60. A cyclical process that transfers energy as heat from a high temperature reservoir to a
low temperature reservoir with no other change would violate:
A. the zeroth law of thermodynamics B. the first law of thermodynamics
C, the second law of thermodynamics D. the third law of thermodynamics
E. none of the above ans: E

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 The SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACADEMY
PHYSICS-II HEAT & THERMODYNMICS CHAPTER-11.2
61. On a warm day a pool of water transfers energy to the air as heat and freezes. This is a
direct violation of:
A. the zeroth law of thermodynamics B. the first law of thermodynamics
C. the second law of thermodynamics D. the third law of thermodynamics
E. none of the above ans: C

62. A heat engine in each cycle absorbs energy from a reservoir as heat and does an
equivalent amount of work, with no other changes. This engine violates:
A. the zeroth law of thermodynamics B. the first law of thermodynamics
C. the second law of thermodynamics D. the third law of thermodynamics
E. none of the above ans: C

63. A Carnot heat engine operates between 400 K and 500 K. Its efficiency is:
A. 20% B. 25% C. 44%
D. 79% E. 100% ans: A

64. The maximum theoretical efficiency of a Carnot heat engine operating between
reservoirs at the steam point and at room temperature is about:
A. 10% B. 20% C. 50%
D. 80% E. 99% ans: B

65. An inventor claims to have a heat engine that has an efficiency of 40% when it operates
between a high temperature reservoir of 150◦ C and a low temperature reservoir of 30◦
C. This engine:
A. must violate the zeroth law of thermodynamics
B. must violate the first law of thermodynamics
C. must violate the second law of thermodynamics
D. must violate the third law of thermodynamics
E. does not necessarily violate any of the laws of thermodynamics ans: C

66. A heat engine operates between 200 K and 100 K. In each cycle it takes 100 J from the
hot reservoir, loses 25 J to the cold reservoir, and does 75 J of work. This heat engine
violates:
A. both the first and second laws of thermodynamics
B. the first law but not the second law of thermodynamics
C. the second law but not the first law of thermodynamics
D. neither the first law nor the second law of thermodynamics
E. cannot answer without knowing the mechanical equivalent of heat ans: C

67. For one complete cycle of reversible heat engine, which of the following quantities is
NOT zero?
A. the change in the entropy of the working gas
B. the change in the pressure of the working gas
C. the change in the internal energy of the working gas
D. the work done by the working gas
E. the change in the temperature of the working gas ans: D

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