UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON

University of London
EXAMINATION FOR INTERNAL STUDENTS
For The Following Qual i fi cati ons:-
B.Sc. M.Sci.
P h y s i c s 1 B 2 8 : T h e r m a l P h y s i c s
COURSE CODE : P H Y S I B 2 8
UNIT VALUE : 0 . 5 0
DATE : 1 5 - M A Y - 0 6
TIME : 1 4 . 3 0
TIME ALLOWED : 2 H o u r s 3 0 M i n u t e s
06-Cl157-3-120
2006 Univemi~ College London
TURN OVER
Ans we r ALL SI X ques t i ons f r om Sect i on A and T HRE E que s t i ons f r om Se c t i on B.
The numbers in square brackets in the right-hand margin indicate the provisional allocations
of maximum marks per sub-section of a question.
The gas constant R = 8.31 J K -1 mol 1
Boltzmann' s constant k = 1.38 x 10 -23 J K -1
Avogadro' s number NA = 6.02 x 1023 mol q
Acceleration due to gravity g = 9.81 m s -2
Freezing point of water 0C = 273.15 K
SECTION A [Part marks]
1. (a) Write down the equation of state for an ideal gas. Explain the meaning of
any symbols used. Sketch the isothermal dependence of pressure on
volume of a gas when it behaves as
i) an ideal gas;
ii) a real gas.
(b) Explain under what physical conditions the ideal gas behaviour fails.
Write down the van der Waals equation of state for a real gas. Explain the
physical meaning of any parameters used.
[ 4 1
[ 3 ]
. (a) State what is meant by the term Maxwell-Boltzmann ' distribution
function ". Sketch the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution of molecular speeds.
Indicate the positions of both the most probable and the root-mean-square
speeds on the diagram.
00) One mole of H2, N2, O2, CI-I4, and CO2 gases are each at T = 300 K.
Which gas, if any, has the highest average kinetic energy per mole?
Molecules of which gas have the highest average speed? Explain your
answers.
[ s ]
[ 2 ]
. (a) Sketch the potential energy of interaction between the two H atoms in an
H2 molecule as a function of their separation. Mark the location of the
equilibrium separation between atoms in a molecule of H2. Describe the
physical origins of the interactions in the molecule at long, short and
intermediate separations between the H atoms.
(b) Explain what is meant by the internal energy of a gas in classical
thermodynamics. Write down an expression for the internal energy of an
ideal monatomic gas. Explain how it is related to the molar heat capacity of a
gas at constant volume.
[4]
[ 3 ]
PHYS1B28/2006 1 PLEASE TURN OVER
4. (a) One mol e of He gas, i ni t i al l y at P1 = 101.3 kPa, 7'1 = 0.0 C, undergoes an
isovolumetric process in whi ch its pressure falls to hal f its initial value.
i) Calculate the work done by the gas;
ii) Calculate the final temperature of the gas;
iii) The hel i um gas then expands isobarically to twice its volume;
calculate the work done by the gas.
(b) How much heat is required to heat 0.3 kg of al umi num, which is initially
at 20 C, to its melting poi nt and t hen to convert it all to liquid? The melting
temperature of al umi num is 660 C, the specific heat is equal to
900 J kg-lK -1 and the latent heat of fusion is equal to 3.97x105 J kg -1.
[41
[ 2 ]
5. (a) State what is meant by a quasi-static adiabatic and quasi-static isothermal
process. Expl ai n how does the internal energy of an ideal gas changes when
it undergoes:
i) a quasi-static adiabatic expansion;
ii) a quasi-static isothermal expansion;
iii) a quasi-static isobaric expansion.
(b) A car receives energy from the fuel at a rate of 72 kJ s -1. It uses 9 kJ s "l to
move along the road. Calculate (i) how much heat is lost as waste per
second, and (ii) the car' s efficiency.
[4]
[ 2 ]
6. (a) Write down a statement of the SecondLaw of Thermodynamics. Explain
what is meant by a reversible process in thermodynamics, and give two
examples of real processes whi ch are irreversible.
(b) An ideal gas is confined to a cyl i nder by a piston. The piston is slowly
pushed inside the cylinder so that the gas temperature remains at 20 C.
During the compression, 730 J of work is done on the gas. Find the entropy
change of the gas.
[4]
[31
PHYS 1 B28/2006 2 CONTI NUED
SECTI ON B
7. (a) An ideal gas has a density of 1.78 kgm 3 and is contained in a volume of
44.8 x 10 -3 m 3. The temperature of the gas is 0.0 C and the pressure is
1.01 x 105 Pa.
i) What is the root mean square speed of the gas molecules?
ii) How many moles of the gas are present?
iii) Assuming that the gas is monatomic, calculate the internal energy of
the gas.
(b) A cylinder containing gas at 300 K is divided into two parts, A and B, of
equal volume by a frictionless piston of cross-sectional area of 15 cm 2. Each
part has a volume of 100 cm 3 and equal initial pressure. The temperature of
the gas in part A is raised to 373 K, while the part B is maintained at the
original temperature. The piston and walls are perfect insulators. Calculate
how far will the piston move due to the change in temperature.
(c) Hailstones hit a r oof perpendicularly. Each hailstone has a mass m and
speed v. There are N hailstones in a volume V approaching the roof. Assume
that when hailstones strike the roof, they bounce back elastically. Derive an
expression for the pressure on the roof due to hailstones hitting it.
[part marks]
[6]
[7]
[ 7 ]
. (a) Explain why for an ideal gas the two mol ar heat capacities, Cp at constant
pressure and C v at constant volume, have different magnitudes. Derive a
relationship for the difference C,o - Cv .
(b) Sketch a P - T phase diagram of a simple substance indicating each
phase. Explain the physical meaning of the lines on the diagram. Show the
positions of the triple point and the critical point and explain their physical
meanings.
(c) The volume of 1 kg of liquid water at 100 C is 1. 0xl 0 -3 m 3. The volume
of the vapour formed when it boils at this temperature and at standard
atmospheric pressure of 1.01xl05 Pa is 1.671 m 3. The latent heat of
vaporization of water is equal 2.26x 106 J kg -1.
i) Calculate how much work is done by the water vapour in pushing
back the atmosphere.
ii) Calculate the increase in the internal energy of water when the liquid
evaporates.
[8]
[7]
[ 5 ]
PHYS1B28/2006 3 PLEASE TURN OVER
9. (a) 60 g of CO2 gas at 350 K is confi ned to a volume of 400 cm 3. For carbon
dioxide gas (CO/), the constants in the van der Waals equation of state are
a = 0.364 J m 3 mo1-2 and b = 4. 27x10 -5 m 3 mo1-1. The molar mass of carbon is
12 g mol "1 and the mol ar mass of oxygen is 16 g mol 1.
i) Find the pressure of the gas using bot h the ideal gas equation and the
van der Waals equation of state.
ii) Explain why the values of pressure obtained using these equations of
state differ.
Co) Calculate the density of mercury at 110 C, i f its density at 0.0 C is
13600 kg/m 3. The coefficient of vol ume expansion of mercury [3 = 1.82 x 10 .4
K -1"
[ 8 ]
[ 5 ]
(c) In a double-glazed wi ndow the panes of glass are separated by 5 cm.
Assume that insulation is provided onl y by the air between the glass panes.
i) Calculate the rate of transfer of heat by conduction from the warm
room (25 C) to the cold exterior (-10C) through a window of area
1 m 2. The thermal conductivity of air is 0.023 W/ m C.
ii) Explain why the coefficient of thermal conductivity of H2 (0.172
W/ m C at 25 C) is much bigger than that of the air.
10.(a) Calculate how much ice (at a temperature of - 20 C) you woul d need to
add to a cup of coffee to bring the temperature of coffee down from 85 C to
60 C. The mass of coffee is 340 g. Assume that all the ice you add will
melt, that coffee has the same heat capacity as water, and that no heat is lost
to the coffee cup or surroundings. The specific heat capacity of water is
equal 4186 J kg -1 K -1, the specific heat capacity of ice is 2090 J kg 1 K -1,
and the latent heat of melting ice is 3.33x105 J kg -a.
[ 7 ]
[ 5 ]
(b) As a sample of gas is allowed to expand quasi-statically and
adiabatically, its pressure drops from 130 kPa to 100 kPa, and its temperature
drops from 300 K to 280 K.
i) Explain whether the gas is monat omi c or diatomic.
ii) Explain which degrees of freedom the gas molecules have and whi ch
of these are likely to be activated at these temperatures.
(c) A monat omi c ideal gas occupies a volume of 1.0 m 3 at 0.0 C and
pressure of 1.01 x 105 Pa. Calculate the final volume and work done during
adiabatic reversible expansion of the gas, i f the final pressure of the gas is
equal to 1.01xl04 Pa.
[7]
[ 8 ]
PHYS 1B28/2006 4 CONTI NUED
11. (a) A st eam engi ne operat i ng bet ween a boi l er t emper at ur e o f 500 C and a
condenser t emperat ure o f 45 C is usi ng 500 J per cycle. Its ef f i ci ency is
30% o f t hat for a Carnot engi ne operat i ng bet ween t hese t emper at ur e limits
and usi ng the same amount o f heat .
i) Dr aw a P-V di agr am o f t he Carnot operat i on cycl e. Show i n t hi s
di agr am wher e heat enters and l eaves t he steam. Cal cul at e t he t her mal
ef f i ci ency and the amount o f heat wast ed per Car not cycl e.
ii) Cal cul at e the amount o f wor k per f or med and t he amount o f heat
wast ed by the real engi ne per cycle.
(iii) Expl ai n why t he ef f i ci ency o f a real engi ne di ffers f r om t hat o f t he
i deal Carnot engi ne
(b) Der i ve an expressi on for the change in ent ropy o f an i deal gas when its
vol ume and t emperat ure change r ever si bl y f r om Vl at / ' 1 to I"2 at T2.
(c) A sampl e o f an ideal gas t hat initially occupi es 11.0x 10 -3 m 3 at 270 K and
pr essur e 1.20x 105 Pa is compr essed r ever si bl y and i sot her mal l y. To what
vol ume must the gas be compr essed to r educe its ent r opy b y 3. 0 J K-l ?
Expl ai n why the ent ropy o f the gas is reduced and wh y your resul t is not a
vi ol at i on o f the ent ropy st at ement o f the Second Law.
[9]
E 4 ]
[7]
L ~
.
PHYS1B28/2006 5 END OF PAPER