Sample IB questions on Thermal Physics

Q1. Data analysis question

At high pressures, a real gas does not behave as an ideal gas. For a certain range of pressures,
it is suggested that the relation between the pressure P and volume V of one mole of the gas at
constant temperature is given by the equation

PV = A + BP

where A and B are constants.

In an experiment to measure the deviation of nitrogen gas from ideal gas behaviour, 1 mole of
nitrogen gas was compressed at a constant temperature of 150 K. The volume V of the gas
was measured for different values of the pressure P. A graph of the product PV of pressure
and volume was plotted against the pressure P and is shown below. (Error bars showing the
uncertainties in measurements are not shown).

13

12

PV / 102N m

11

10
0 5 .0 10 15 20
P / 106Pa

(a) Draw a line of best fit for the data points.

(1)

(b) Use the graph to determine the values of the constants A and B in the equation

PV = A + BP.

Constant A .................................................................

.................................................................

.................................................................
Constant B .................................................................

.................................................................

.................................................................

.................................................................

.................................................................
(5)

(c) State the value of the constant B for an ideal gas.

.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

7
(d) The equation PV = A + BP is valid for pressures up to 6.0 10 Pa.
7
(i) Determine the value of PV for nitrogen gas at a pressure of 6.0 10 Pa.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) Calculate the difference between the value of PV for an ideal gas and nitrogen gas when both
7
are at a pressure of 6.0 10 Pa.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(e) In the original experiment, the pressure P was measured to an accuracy of 5% and the volume
V was measured to an accuracy of 2%. Determine the absolute error in the value of the
constant A.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 14 marks)
Q2. (a) State what is meant by an ideal gas.

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

2 3
(b) The internal volume of a gas cylinder is 2.0 10 m . An ideal gas is pumped into the
cylinder until the pressure becomes 20 MPa at a temperature of 17C.

Determine

(i) the number of moles of gas in the cylinder;

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) the number of gas atoms in the cylinder.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(c) (i) Using your answers in (b), determine the average volume occupied by one gas atom.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) Estimate a value for the average separation of the gas atoms.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 9 marks)
Q3. This question is about ideal gases and specific heat capacity.

(a) (i) State, in terms of kinetic theory, what is meant by an ideal gas.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(3)

(ii) Explain why the internal energy of an ideal gas is kinetic energy only.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

3 5
A fixed mass of an ideal gas has a volume of 870 cm at a pressure of 1.00 10 Pa and a
temperature of 20.0C. The gas is heated at constant pressure to a temperature of 21.0C.

(b) (i) Calculate the change in volume of the gas.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(3)

(ii) Determine the external work done during this process.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(c) (i) Define specific heat capacity.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)
(ii) Explain what happens to the molecules of an ideal gas when the temperature of the gas is
increased at constant volume.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(iii) Apply the first law of thermodynamics to show that, if the temperature of a gas is raised at
constant pressure, the specific heat capacity of the gas is different from that when the
temperature is raised at constant volume.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 17 marks)
 Answers to the questions
A1.
13

12

PV / 102N m

11

10
0 5 .0 10 15 20
6 2
P / 10 N m
(a) suitable straight-line of best fit; 1
(b) A is the intercept on the y-axis consistent with line drawn (or by implication);
3
= 12.6 = 1.3 10 Nm the best fit line should give a 2 SD
3
value of 1.3 10 Nm;
B is the gradient;
some evidence that reasonable values have been used (y2 y1 > 0.9, x2 x1 > 8);
5
= 1.0(0.1) 10 ; 5
Accept answers based on using two data points on line. Award [3 max] if points not on line.
Ignore any missing units and do not penalize if minus sign is omitted.
Award [1] for determination of B if only one data point is used.
(c) B = 0; 1
(d) (i) substitute into PV = A + BP
5 7
PV = 1300 (1.0 10 6.0 10 );
= 700(640 760)Nm; 2
3
= 1.9(0.5) 10 Nm if BP is added instead of subtracted.
Award [1] for ecf.
(ii) recognize that the ideal gas value is the intercept on the y-axis;
or
from PV = RT;
or
= constant A;
difference 600(540 660) Nm; 2
(e) error bars constructed on two well separated points;
attempt to draw reasonable extreme graph line / lines;
reasonable estimate of uncertainty;
Accept alternative approach.
total% error for PV = 7%;
 2 2
7% of 12.6 10 = 0.9 10 ;
2
so absolute error = (0.9) 10 N m; 3
[14]

A2. (a) gas that obeys the equation pV = nRT / no forces between molecules;
at all pressures, volumes and temperatures / any other postulate; 2
(b) (i) pV = nRT
6 2
20 10 2 10 = n 8.3 290;
n = 170 (166); 2 max
(ii) number = n NA;
23 26
number = 166 6.02 10 = 1.0 10 ; 2
28 3
(c) (i) average volume = 2.0 10 m; 1
(ii) average separation 3 ( 2.0 10 28 ) ;
10
= 5.8 10 m; 2
Allow solution based on sphere.
[9]

A3. (a) (i) no intermolecular forces;

any other two relevant assumptions of kinetic theory; [2] 3
Do not allow pV = nRT.
(ii) no forces between molecules / atoms so no potential energy;
and internal energy = (random) kinetic energy + potential energy; 2
870 V
(b) (i) ;
293 294
3
V = 873 cm ;
3
V = 3 cm ; 3
3
Award [1] for use of C not K giving 44 cm .
5 6
(ii) work done = 1.00 10 3 10 ;
= 0.3 J; 2
(c) (i) quantity of thermal energy (heat) required to raise temperature
of unit mass; by one degree; 2
Award [1 max] for use of units, rather than quantities.
(ii) kinetic energy / speed of atoms increases;
reference to r.m.s. speed / r.m.s. velocity / mean speed / mean
kinetic energy; 2
(iii) at constant volume, Q = U / all heating increases internal energy;
at constant pressure, (Q = U + W) / heating increases internal
energy and external work is done;
hence conclusion; 3
[17]