Understanding Entropy and Its Relationship to Length and Temperature Changes

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between entropy, length changes, and temperature changes in the context of a rod undergoing deformation. Participants explore how entropy is affected by these changes, particularly in a thermodynamic system that is well insulated and potentially isenthalpic.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant states that an infinitesimal change in entropy is given by dS = dQ/T, questioning how entropy can change with respect to length changes if dS is dependent on heat transfer.
  • Another participant suggests that if the rod is well insulated, the system is isenthalpic, implying that any work done would not necessarily lead to a change in internal energy, thus complicating the relationship between work, heat, and entropy.
  • Some participants propose that a change in length of the rod results from a change in energy, which could be thermal or stress energy, and that this change may influence entropy despite the conditions of constant enthalpy.
  • One participant argues that if the length is changed in a reversible manner without heat transfer, the process is adiabatic and isentropic, suggesting that entropy remains constant under these conditions.
  • Another participant points out that while internal energy can change due to work done on the rod, this does not necessarily imply a change in entropy, highlighting the distinction between state functions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between length changes and entropy, with some asserting that entropy does not change with length, while others argue that changes in energy associated with length changes could lead to entropy changes. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions made about the system's conditions, such as whether the process is reversible or irreversible, and the implications of constant internal energy versus constant enthalpy. These factors contribute to the complexity of the discussion.

leright
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ok, so a infinitesimal change in entropy is dS = dQ/T. Differentials are used so that temperature change is neglibible over the change in Q.

Now, I have a homework problem that wants me to express the change in entropy of a rod as a function of length changes and temperature changes. Now, isn't the change in entropy with respect to change in length zero, since dS = dQ/T? The internal energy changes wrt work done on the rod, but it seems the entropy does not? Can someone explain why it does change with length changes? Also, if entropy does change wrt length changes how would I go about determining the entropy changes along an integration path where T is constant??

the force on the rod is F = -aT^2(L-Lo), where Lo is the initial length.

Thanks a lot.
 
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Please guys, I need your help. :(
 
Maybe you should write the exact problem.

Anywho, I took engineering thermo, so I can't help. We only did systems invloving fluids.

Bed time,

Ciao.
 
It mentions that the rod is well insulated, which would obviously mean that the system is isenthalpic (constant heat). This means that dU = dW.

If the rod were constant internal energy then any work done would result in a decrease in the heat content, which would correspond to a temperature change, but the conditions of the problem do not imply constna internal energy.

I lose.
 
Maybe I should just kill myself.
 
Sounds like a good idea.
 
cyrusabdollahi said:
Sounds like a good idea.

haha

no really, I need help.

I figured deltaS = 0.5b((Tf)^2 - (To)^2) = 0, where b is a constant and Tf and Ti are the final and initial temps, respectively. Entropy doesn't seem to have any dependence on length. wtf?

And I thought you were going to bed.
 
Last edited:
Im working on my heat transfer project, leave me alone! Dead people can't post.

I don't know if this helps, but a change in length of the rod is a result of a change in energy of the rod. It can be thermal energy (expansion) or stress energy (strain).
 
cyrusabdollahi said:
Im working on my heat transfer project, leave me alone! Dead people can't post.

I don't know if this helps, but a change in length of the rod is a result of a change in energy of the rod. It can be thermal energy (expansion) or stress energy (strain).

Yes, I realize this. If the internal energy of the rod was constant then work done on the rod would need to have a corresponding change in heat, and therefore a change in entropy. However, this is NOT a constant internal energy condition...it is a constant enthalpy condition, which simply means that the change in internal energy is equal to the work done on the rod. This, however, does not help me.

hmmm...
 
  • #10
ok, let me ask you this. When you stretch a rod, does it change temperature?? If so, why?

This is a constant heat process, btw...but NOT constant U (internal energy)
 
  • #11
leright said:
ok, so a infinitesimal change in entropy is dS = dQ/T. Differentials are used so that temperature change is neglibible over the change in Q.

Now, I have a homework problem that wants me to express the change in entropy of a rod as a function of length changes and temperature changes. Now, isn't the change in entropy with respect to change in length zero, since dS = dQ/T?


Yes. So if you know the answer, what's the problem ? :smile:

If you change the length in a reversible way by applying an external force which will hence only do work, and you don't have any heat transfer, then the process is adiabatic and isentropic.

Of course, if the external force gives rise to an irreversible process (like turning a paddle in a liquid), then there will be an entropy increase (although the process is, strictly speaking, adiabatic but irreversible).
 
  • #12
leright said:
ok, let me ask you this. When you stretch a rod, does it change temperature?? If so, why?

This is a constant heat process, btw...but NOT constant U (internal energy)

Indeed, there will be a change in internal energy equal to the work done by the external force: dU = dQ + dW (if dW is the work done on the system, there can be different sign conventions).
Given that dQ = 0 and dW = F.ds, we have that dU = F.ds

But the internal energy can change while keeping S constant.
As you pointed out correctly, dS = dQ/T (in a reversible process).
Given that dQ = 0, we have that dS = 0, but given that dW is not 0, we have that dU is not 0. There is no contradiction here. S and U are different state functions, and a change in state can result in a change in U and not a change in S.
 

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