Dereive an expression for an isobaric/isothermal change in entropy

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around deriving expressions for changes in entropy for a Van der Waals gas during isobaric and isothermal processes. Participants are examining the relationships between internal energy, pressure, and volume in the context of thermodynamic equations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to derive expressions for entropy change (dS) using the central equation TdS = dU + PdV. They explore specific cases of isobaric and isothermal changes, questioning the validity of their derived expressions and assumptions made during the derivation.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided detailed attempts at deriving the expressions, while others have raised questions about the assumptions and methods used, particularly regarding the introduction of the ideal gas law and its implications on the results. There is an ongoing exploration of different approaches and interpretations without a clear consensus.

Contextual Notes

Participants note variations in the equations used for the Van der Waals gas and discuss the implications of these differences on the derived expressions for entropy. There is also mention of homework constraints and the need to adhere to specific thermodynamic definitions and relationships.

trelek2
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I already dereived the following expressions for the Van der Waals gas:
molar energy:
[tex]U=3RT - \frac{aP}{RT}[/tex]
and the expression for the PV, where V is the molar volume:
[tex]PV= RT +(b - \frac {a}{RT})P[/tex]
Using these and the central equation,
[tex]TdS = dU + PdV[/tex]

i am to dereive an expression for dS in two cases:
1) as the substance undergoes an isobaric change from temperature [tex]T_{i}[/tex] to [tex]T_{f}[/tex] at pressure [tex]P[/tex].
2) as the substance undergoes an isothermal change from pressure [tex]P_{i}[/tex] to [tex]P_{f}[/tex] at temperature [tex]T[/tex].
 
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trelek2 said:
Using these and the central equation,
[tex]TdS = dU + PdV[/tex]

i am to dereive an expression for dS in two cases:
1) as the substance undergoes an isobaric change from temperature [tex]T_{i}[/tex] to [tex]T_{f}[/tex] at pressure [tex]P[/tex].
2) as the substance undergoes an isothermal change from pressure [tex]P_{i}[/tex] to [tex]P_{f}[/tex] at temperature [tex]T[/tex].

Okay; and your attempt at a solution is...?
 
On the example of the isobaric:
[tex]dS = \frac {dU}{T}+\frac{P}{T}dV[/tex]
using the expression for the molar internal energy:
[tex]dU = 3RdT+ \frac {aP}{RT^{2}}dT - \frac {a}{RT}dP[/tex]
and using the expression for the PV product:
[tex]V= \frac {RT}{P} +b - \frac{a}{RT}[/tex]
then [tex]dV=\frac {R}{P}dT+ \frac{a}{RT^{2}}dT- \frac{RT}{P^{2}}dP[/tex]
Substituting into dS (taking dP=0):
[tex]dS= 4R \frac{dT}{T}+\frac {2aPdT}{RT^{3}}[/tex]
and integrating:
[tex]dS=4Rln( \frac{T_{f}}{T_{i}})+ \frac {aP}{R(T_{i}-T_{f})}[/tex]
I have no idea whether this is correct though...
 
trelek2 said:
On the example of the isobaric:
[tex]dS = \frac {dU}{T}+\frac{P}{T}dV[/tex]
using the expression for the molar internal energy:
[tex]dU = 3RdT+ \frac {aP}{RT^{2}}dT - \frac {a}{RT}dP[/tex]
and using the expression for the PV product:
[tex]V= \frac {RT}{P} +b - \frac{a}{RT}[/tex]
then [tex]dV=\frac {R}{P}dT+ \frac{a}{RT^{2}}dT- \frac{RT}{P^{2}}dP[/tex]
Substituting into dS (taking dP=0):
[tex]dS= 4R \frac{dT}{T}+\frac {2aPdT}{RT^{3}}[/tex]

Looks good so far!:approve:

and integrating:
[tex]dS=4Rln( \frac{T_{f}}{T_{i}})+ \frac {aP}{R(T_{i}-T_{f})}[/tex]
I have no idea whether this is correct though...

When you integrate [itex]dS[/itex] from the initial state to the final state, you get [itex]\Delta S\equiv S_f-S_i[/itex], not [itex]dS[/itex].
 
Last edited:
I found slightly a different equation for the van-der-Waals gas. Also in many places you seem to introduce the ideal gas law for a moment. That's where little differences come from, but maybe the difference isn't big though.

The van-der-Waals equation as I found it is
[tex] \left(p+\frac{a}{V^2}\right)(V-b)=RT[/tex]
In any case for a van-der-Waals gas the energy is
[tex] U=f(T)-\frac{a}{V}[/tex]
You have assumed that [itex]f(T)=3RT[/itex], which is strictly speaking an addition to the van-der-Waals equation, but probably justified.

Now
[tex] T\mathrm{d}S=\mathrm{d}U+p\mathdm{d}V<br /> =f'\mathrm{d}T+\frac{a}{V^2}\mathrm{d}V+p\mathrm{d}V<br /> =f'\mathrm{d}T+\frac{RT}{V-b}\mathrm{d}V[/tex]
so
[tex] \mathrm{d}S=f'\frac{\mathrm{d}T}{T}+\frac{R\mathrm{d}V}{V-b}[/tex]
[tex] \Delta S=\int \frac{\mathrm{d}f}{T}+R\ln\left|\frac{V_1-b}{V_0-b}\right|[/tex]
With your assumption [itex]f(T)=3RT[/itex] this gives
[tex] \Delta S=3R\ln\frac{T_1}{T_0}+R\ln\left(\frac{V_1-b}{V_0-b}\right)[/tex]
Anyone agrees if that is OK? This derivation has not made the ideal gas law substitutions [itex]pV=RT[/itex] that seem to be in your calculation.
 
Last edited:
http://theory.phy.umist.ac.uk/~judith/stat_therm/node51.html
 
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