Euler's equation of thermodynamics in free expansion (Joule expansion)

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around the application of Euler's equation to the free expansion of an ideal gas, where the volume doubles in a vacuum. It highlights the confusion regarding the change in entropy, which increases by nR ln(2), while the pressure decreases and temperature remains constant. The equation U = -PV + TS is derived from the properties of extensive variables, but the participant initially overlooked the chemical potential term. Upon reevaluation, it was clarified that while the change in -PV is zero, the decrease in chemical potential exactly cancels the increase in TS, resulting in no change in internal energy during free expansion. This resolution reconciles the apparent contradiction between the thermodynamic equations and the behavior of the gas.
Ron19932017
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Hi everyone,
I am confused when I apply Euler's equation on the free expansion of an ideal gas.

Consider a free expansion (expansion of gas in vaccum) where the volume is doubled (V->2V)
The classical free expansion of an ideal gas results in increase in entropy by an amount of nR ln(2), a decrease in pressure (P->P/2), and the temperature T is constant.

The Euler equation of thermodynamics writes U=-PV+TS.
Before free expansion S=(U+PV)/T.
After free expansion S=(U+(P/2)(2V))/T.
It looks like that from Euler equation the entropy should remain unchange.
However it must not be the case from what we know about free expansion.

Can anyone give me some clue where am i wrong?
 
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Where did you get U = -PV+TS, because, according to my understanding, the Gibbs free energy is defined as G=U-TS+PV and it is not zero nor is its change zero in free expansion. In free expansion, its change is ##-nRT\ln{2}##
 
Chestermiller said:
Where did you get U = -PV+TS, because, according to my understanding, the Gibbs free energy is defined as G=U-TS+PV and it is not zero nor is its change zero in free expansion. In free expansion, its change is ##-nRT\ln{2}##
The equation U=-PV+TS is called Euler's equation, and is derived from the homogenous property of extensive variables. Start with a chamber of gas with a state of (P,V,T), consider the first law of thermodynamics, dU=-PdV+TdS,
when we homogeneously increase volume and entropy (extensive variables) by 10% and keeping pressure and
temperature (intensive variables) constant, the internal energy U, an extensive variable, should change accordingly by 10%. Then U(final)=1.1U(initial), 0.1U=-P(0.1V)+Td(0.1S), U=-PV+TS.
 
Ron19932017 said:
The equation U=-PV+TS is called Euler's equation, and is derived from the homogenous property of extensive variables. Start with a chamber of gas with a state of (P,V,T), consider the first law of thermodynamics, dU=-PdV+TdS,
when we homogeneously increase volume and entropy (extensive variables) by 10% and keeping pressure and
temperature (intensive variables) constant, the internal energy U, an extensive variable, should change accordingly by 10%. Then U(final)=1.1U(initial), 0.1U=-P(0.1V)+Td(0.1S), U=-PV+TS.
The state of a closed system is determined by specifying 2 parameters. Once the pressure and temperature are specified, none of the other parameters can change. The equation of state for the gas, P=P(V,T) (for fixed mass) tells you once pressure and temperature are fixed, the volume can't change.
 
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Chestermiller said:
The state of a closed system is determined by specifying 2 parameters. Once the pressure and temperature are specified, none of the other parameters can change. The equation of state for the gas, P=P(V,T) (for fixed mass) tells you once pressure and temperature are fixed, the volume can't change.
Thank you for your reply! I checked again Euler's equation writes U=-PV+TS+##\mu## N, previously I missed the chemical potential term, it turns out that in the case of free expansion of V->2V, although ##\Delta## (-PV)=0, while ##\Delta (TS)=nrT ln(2)##, the chemical potential decreases! ##\Delta (\mu N)= -nRT ln(2)##, exactly cancels out the## \Delta (TS) ##term such that the internal energy indeed remains unchanged after the free expansion.
 
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