The First Law of Thermodynamics
 

The First Law of Thermodynamics problem 32


An ideal gas is contained in a cylinder by means of a movable frictionless piston, as illustrated in the figure below.




Initially, the gas has a volume of at a pressure of and a temperature of .


  • Show that the number of gas molecules in the cylinder is .


  • The gas expands so that its volume increases to at a pressure of and a temperature of , as shown in the figure below.




    • The average translational kinetic energy of a molecule of an ideal gas is given by




      where is the Boltzmann constant and is the thermodynamic temperature. Calculate the increase in internal energy of the gas during the expansion.


    • The work done by the gas during the expansion is . Use your answer in (i) to explain whether thermal energy is transferred to or from the gas during the expansion.


 

main author and content editor: Ebenezer Famadewa