Determining the change of entropy

In summary, a composite system with two insulated partitions initially contains 2 mol of a monatomic ideal gas at 500K on one side and 4 mol of the same gas at 200K on the other side. After replacing the partition with a conducting frictionless piston, the system reaches equilibrium at a common temperature of 300K and a common pressure of 998kPa. The new volumes for each side are 5L and 10L. To calculate the change in entropy, ΔS, the equations ΔS1= -17.896 and ΔS2=43.278 were used, resulting in a final value of 25.382J/K. However, after correcting the value for ΔS1, the
  • #1
Ange98
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Homework Statement


A composite system consists of an insulated partitioned volume, shown in Figure 4.9. Side 1 contains 2 mol of a monatomic ideal gas and Side 2 contains 4 moles of the same monatomic ideal gas. Initially, the two sides are separated by a fully insulated partition (adiabatic wall) and the temperatures are 500K and 200K on sides 1 and 2 respectively. At a particular time replacing the partition by a conducting frictionless piston. Initially V1=10L and V2=5L . Let T12 be the common temperature at which equilibrium is reached and P12 the common pressure.

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a.) Find T12 (Found to be 300K)
b.) Find P12, and the new values for V1 and V2. (Found them to be 998kPa, 5L and 10L respectively)
c.) Determine ΔS, as in ΔS=ΔS1+ΔS2 (The answer is 19J/K, but I cannot seem to reach that answer)

Homework Equations


ΔS=Ncv ln(T/To) + NR ln (V/Vo)

The Attempt at a Solution


So I found ΔS1= -17.896 using T=300, To=500, V=5, Vo=10 And ΔS2= 43.278 with T=300, To=200, V=10, Vo=5. I used cv=3/2R (though I thought it should be 3/2NR, but in class we had that it should be 3/2R for this question). So these values give a ΔS of 25.382J/K, which is quite a bit off from the answer. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
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  • #2
Everything looks good except your value for ΔS1. Check your calculation of that.
 
  • #3
Ah yes that was it! Thank you!
 

1. What is entropy and why is it important in determining change?

Entropy is a measure of the disorder or randomness in a system. In thermodynamics, it is a crucial concept for understanding the direction of energy flow and the efficiency of energy conversion. Determining the change in entropy allows us to predict the direction of a process and whether it is feasible or not.

2. How is the change of entropy calculated?

The change in entropy (ΔS) can be calculated using the formula ΔS = Q/T, where Q is the heat transferred and T is the temperature in Kelvin. This formula applies to reversible processes, while for irreversible processes, the change in entropy is calculated using the Clausius inequality.

3. What factors affect the change of entropy?

The change in entropy depends on the temperature, pressure, and the state of the system. It also depends on the type of process, whether it is reversible or irreversible. The number of particles and their arrangement also affect the change in entropy.

4. Can the change of entropy be negative?

Yes, the change in entropy can be negative, indicating a decrease in disorder or randomness. This usually occurs in processes that release heat, such as condensation or freezing. However, the overall entropy of the universe always increases according to the second law of thermodynamics.

5. How does entropy relate to the concept of equilibrium?

Entropy is related to the concept of equilibrium through the second law of thermodynamics, which states that the entropy of an isolated system always increases over time until it reaches equilibrium. At equilibrium, entropy no longer changes, and the system is in a state of maximum disorder and randomness.

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