Heat required to increase the temperature

In summary, the question asks for the amount of heat needed to increase the temperature of 1 mole of nitrogen gas by 10 degrees Celsius at constant volume and constant pressure. The nitrogen molecule is assumed to behave like a one-dimensional harmonic oscillator, but this assumption is incorrect as it has additional degrees of freedom from translational and rotational motion. Taking these into account, the correct answer for the heat needed is approximately 70 calories for constant volume and 90 calories for constant pressure, with the difference due to the specific heat capacity of nitrogen.
  • #1
gj2

Homework Statement


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At high temperatures the nitrogen molecule behaves like a one-dimensional harmonic oscillator. In this situation, estimate how much heat must be added to the system in order to increase the temperature of 1 mole of nitrogen gas by 10 degrees Celsius (for constant volume and constant pressure respectively). Take into account all degrees of freedom: translational, rotational and vibrational.

Homework Equations


Average energy per degree of freedom: ##kT/2##

The Attempt at a Solution


A one-dimensional harmonic oscillator has two degrees of freedom, therefore according to the equipartition theorem the average energy of a nitrogen molecule must be ##kT##. One mole of nitrogen has ##N_A## molecules and so the total internal energy of the gas is ##U=N_A k T##. Therefore if the process is isochoric the amount of heat we need to add to the system in order to increase the temperature by 10 degrees is
$$dQ=N_A k dT=N_A k \cdot 10\text{K} \approx 19.8 \text{cal}$$
However the correct answer is ##70 \text{cal}## and I don't understand why.
Also, I have no idea how to find the heat for the case of an isobaric process since this is not an ideal gas (the answer for constant pressure case is ##90 \text{cal}##).
 
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  • #2
First of all, a nitrogen molecule is not a one dimensional harmonic oscillator. You are missing a lot of degrees of freedom by this assumption.
 
  • #3
Orodruin said:
First of all, a nitrogen molecule is not a one dimensional harmonic oscillator. You are missing a lot of degrees of freedom by this assumption.
But that's how the question was formulated. It's not my assumption.
 
  • #4
It is an oscillator that in addition can translate and rotate. Only the vibrational spectrum is described by an actual harmonic oscillator.
 
  • #5
Orodruin said:
It is an oscillator that in addition can translate and rotate. Only the vibrational spectrum is described by an actual harmonic oscillator.
Oh I see. So the translational motion contributes 3 degrees of freedom whereas the rotational contributes 2. Therefore there are 7 degrees of freedom and the heat required is approximately 70cal, as expected.
But what about the constant pressure case? How can I approach this problem?
Thank you.
Edit: nevermind. I think the reason why it's ##90 \text{cal}## for constant pressure case is because ##C_p-C_v=2 \frac{\text{cal}}{\text{mol}\,\text{K}}## for nitrogen (apparently it does behave approximately as an ideal gas). So it requires additional $$\left(2 \,\frac{\text{cal}}{\text{mol}\,\text{K}} \right )\cdot (10 \,\text{K})=20 \,\frac{\text{cal}}{\text{mol}}$$ heat for constant pressure case.
 
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1. What is the definition of heat required to increase the temperature?

The heat required to increase the temperature is the amount of thermal energy needed to raise the temperature of a substance by a certain amount.

2. How is the heat required to increase the temperature measured?

The heat required to increase the temperature is typically measured in units of joules (J) or calories (cal). It can also be measured in British thermal units (BTU) in some systems of measurement.

3. What factors affect the amount of heat required to increase the temperature?

The amount of heat required to increase the temperature of a substance depends on its specific heat capacity, which is a measure of how much energy is needed to raise the temperature of a substance by a certain amount. Other factors such as the mass and initial temperature of the substance can also affect the heat required.

4. Can the heat required to increase the temperature vary for different substances?

Yes, the heat required to increase the temperature can vary for different substances due to their different specific heat capacities. For example, water has a high specific heat capacity and therefore requires more heat to increase its temperature compared to other substances.

5. How is the heat required to increase the temperature used in practical applications?

The concept of heat required to increase the temperature is used in many practical applications, such as cooking, heating and cooling systems, and industrial processes. It is also important in understanding changes in temperature and thermal energy in chemical reactions and physical processes.

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