Calculating Mechanical Work in an Adiabatic Process of an Ideal Gas

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SUMMARY

The mechanical work exchanged by two moles of a monoatomic ideal gas during an adiabatic transformation from T1=400K to T2=277°C is calculated using the formula dW = α * nR(T2 - T1). The ratio of specific heat capacities, γ, is defined as (α + 1) / α, which is crucial for deriving the work done. The final calculated work is 3068 J, accurate to four significant figures. The discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding Poisson's equations and the relationship between temperature and volume in adiabatic processes.

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Homework Statement



Two moles of an monoatomic ideal gas are experiencing an adiabatic transformation; during this time the temperature modifies from T1=400K to t2=277^o C.
What's the value of the mechanical work exchanged by the gas with the exterior?


Homework Equations



The mechanical work's formula, Poisson's equations

The Attempt at a Solution



First i wrote this
L=(p_1V_1-p_2V_2)/(g-1)
Then wrote Poisson's equations, replaced the temperature with the given values, then find out V1 in function of V2 and p1 in function of p2.
Replacing them in the first equation would get me a wrong answer (2.6 = 1)

I haven't done any thermodynamics exercise for 3 years and i quite forgot the stuff.
Sorry for the weird terms i may have used, don't know them exactly in english.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adiabatic_process

The section Titled "Derivation of Discrete Formula" has all of the equations you should need to derive a law.

Remember that the ratio of specific heat capacities of a mono-atomic ideal gas is related to the number of degrees of freedom. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monatomic_gas

You should end up with:

dW = alpha *nR(T2 - T1)

... where gamma = (alpha + 1) / alpha (gamma is the ratio http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_capacity_ratio)

This gives the magnitude of dw as: 3068 J to 4 significant figures.

Let me know if this helps.
 

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