Physics 846: Problem Set 2

Due Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 11:59 P. M.

Each problem is worth 10 pts. unless otherwise specified

1. Two particular systems have the following equations of state:

1 3 N (1)
= R (1) (1)
T (1) 2 U
and
1 3 N (2)
= R (2) (2)
T (2) 2 U
where R is the gas constant. The mole number of the first system is
N (1) = 2 and that of the second is N (2) = 3. The two systems are
separated by a diathermal wall and the total energy of the composite
system is 2.5 × 103 J. What is the internal energy of each system in
equilibrium (i. e., after the two systems have come to thermal equilib-
rium)?
2. (a). Two moles of a monatomic ideal gas are at a temperature of 0 ◦ C
and a volume of 45 liters. The gas is expanded adiabatically (no heat is
transferred in or out) and quasistatically until its temperature falls to
-50◦ C. What are the initial and final pressures and the final volume?
R
(b). By carrying out the integral P dV , compute the work done by
the gas in part (a). Also, compute the intial and final energies and
corroborate that the difference between these energies is the work done.
3. An impermeable, diathermal, and rigid partition divides a container
into two subvolumes, each of volume V. The subvolumes contain, re-
spectively, one mole of H2 and three moles of Ne. The partition is
suddenly made permeable to H2 but not to Ne, and equilibrium is
allowed to reestablish. Find the mole numbers and the pressures.
4. As stated in class, a Van der Waal fluid is one which has the two
equations of state
P R a 1
= − 2 (3)
T v−b v T

1
 and
1 cR
= . (4)
T u + a/v
From these equations, derive the fundamental relation

S = N R ln[(v − b)(u + a/v)c ] + N s0 . (5)

Note: v0 = V /N is the volume per mole.

5. (a). (20 pts.) Show that for a multicomponent simple ideal gas

cv c̄R (6)
α = 1/T (7)
κT = 1/P (8)
c̄ 1
κS = (9)
c̄ + 1 P
cP = (c̄ + 1)R, (10)
P P
where c̄ = j cj xj = (1/N ) j c j Nj .
(b). What is the value of c̄ for a monatomic ideal gas?
(c). Using the values found in (a), confirm the identities mentioned in
class:
T V α2
cp = cv + (11)
N κT
T V α2
κT = κS + . (12)
N cp

6. Compute the coefficient of thermal expansion α and the isothermal

compressibility κT in terms of P and v, using the van der Waals equa-
tion of state in the form
RT a
P = − 2. (13)
v−b v