Specific Heats of Gases and Thermodynamic Processes

Name: Specific Heats of Gases and Thermodynamic Processes
Author: StemPy Lab

A gas has two specific heats, and the one at constant pressure is the larger. A gas that is compressed quickly gets hot, and a gas that is compressed slowly does not. In this course we find Mayer's relation, and we study the isobaric, isochoric, isothermal and adiabatic processes with the heat, work and change of internal energy of each.

3 lessons, about 1 h 10 min3 simulations12 problems6 practice questionsPython in every lesson

Created by StemPy Lab

Course outline (3 lessons)

Lesson 1about 25 min
Specific heats of a gas and Mayer's relation
A gas has two molar heat capacities: $C_v$ at a steady volume and $C_p$ at a steady pressure. $C_p$ is larger because the gas also does work as it expands, and Mayer's relation gives $C_p - C_v = R$ . For a monatomic gas $C_v = \tfrac32 R$ , $\gamma = \tfrac53$ ; for a diatomic gas $C_v = \tfrac52 R$ , $\gamma = 1.40$ .
1 simulation2 practice questions1 Python program4 problems
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Lesson 2about 25 min
Isothermal, isobaric and isochoric processes
In an isothermal process the temperature is steady, so $\Delta U = 0$ and $Q = W = nRT\ln\dfrac{V_2}{V_1}$ . In an isobaric process the pressure is steady: $W = p\,\Delta V$ and $Q = nC_p\,\Delta T$ . In an isochoric process the volume is steady: $W = 0$ and $Q = \Delta U = nC_v\,\Delta T$ .
1 simulation2 practice questions1 Python program4 problems1 question set
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Lesson 3about 20 min
The adiabatic process
In an adiabatic process no heat flows: the gas is insulated or the change is too quick. Then $W = -\Delta U$ , and $pV^\gamma$ and $TV^{\gamma - 1}$ stay the same. A gas squeezed adiabatically warms, as in a diesel engine; one that expands adiabatically cools. On a pressure-volume graph an adiabat is steeper than an isotherm.
1 simulation2 practice questions1 Python program4 problems2 Python labs1 note
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Specific Heats and Thermodynamic Processes: Timed Test

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Specific Heats of Gases and Thermodynamic Processes

Course outline (3 lessons)

Specific heats of a gas and Mayer's relation

Isothermal, isobaric and isochoric processes

The adiabatic process

Test Your Learning

Your teacher

Discussion (0)