Elastic balloon of volume V in vacuum

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the pressure inside an elastic balloon of volume V in a vacuum, considering the tension T in the balloon's surface. Participants are exploring the relationship between pressure, volume, and surface tension, while also attempting to connect this to the ideal gas law.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss using the first law of thermodynamics and dimensional analysis to relate changes in internal energy to pressure and surface tension. There are attempts to derive expressions for pressure in terms of volume and tension, with varying degrees of complexity. Questions arise regarding the relationship between the increase in area and volume of the balloon, as well as the implications of static equilibrium.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with multiple interpretations being explored. Some participants suggest different approaches to derive the pressure and volume relationships, while others question the assumptions made in their calculations. There is no explicit consensus, but various lines of reasoning are being examined.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of a homework problem, which may limit the information available and the methods they can use. The discussion includes references to specific equations and physical principles relevant to the problem at hand.

poiuyt
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Homework Statement


Take an elastic balloon of volume V in vacuum. The surface of the balloon has tension T. Find the pressure inside the balloon in terms of V and T, then combine this to the ideal gas law to find an expression for V.

Homework Equations


See below

The Attempt at a Solution


I think one should use something like dU=-pdV, but you need to add a term with T. From dimensional analysis you get TdA. So you have dU=-pdV+TdA. But I'm confused on what happens then, I get something like

p=-(dU/dV)+T(dA/dV)

But then how does this help if I want V?
 
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poiuyt said:

Homework Statement


Take an elastic balloon of volume V in vacuum. The surface of the balloon has tension T. Find the pressure inside the balloon in terms of V and T, then combine this to the ideal gas law to find an expression for V.

Homework Equations


See below

The Attempt at a Solution


I think one should use something like dU=-pdV, but you need to add a term with T. From dimensional analysis you get TdA. So you have dU=-pdV+TdA. But I'm confused on what happens then, I get something like

p=-(dU/dV)+K(dA/dV)

But then how does this help if I want V?

You have a static equilibrium. Pressure inside the balloon (force pushing out) is exactly compensated for by the tension in the balloon (force decreasing the size of the balloon).

How can you relate the increase in area of the balloon to the increase in volume?
 
maybe like this: dA/dV should go like 1/dr where r is the radius. If you do it for the whole balloon this is A/V=3/r. So effectively you get p = 3T/r = 3T (4π/3)1/3 V-1/3

then you plug this in the ideal gas law (I call the temperature τ) and you get pV=3T (4π/3)1/3 V-1/3 V = Nkτ and solving for V you get V = (Nkτ/3T)3/2 (4π/3)-1/2

I'm not sure about the 3 from A/V
 
poiuyt said:
I think one should use something like dU=-pdV
Finding the pressure is much easier than that.
Think of the sphere in two halves. What is the force pushing them apart? What is the force holding them together?
 
Ok, one half gets F=pπr2 because the area is effectively just the one of the equator (right?). The force that holds together the two halves is the circle 2πr times the tension T. So you get p=2T/r. Then you have exactly the same calculation, but with a 2 instead of a 3: V = (Nkτ/2T)3/2(4π/3)-1/2

Btw I found this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_tension#Thermodynamics_of_soap_bubbles where they get the same using dA/dV!
 

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