Heat Capacity & Density: Math Relation Explored

  • Thread starter Thread starter LeoYard
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Density Heat
AI Thread Summary
Heat capacity is mathematically related to density, with the relationship influenced by molecular structure and phase (solid, liquid, or gas). A decrease in density may lead to an increase in degrees of freedom and entropy, although this effect varies across different materials. Interatomic and intermolecular forces change with density, affecting atomic vibrations and introducing new vibrational modes. The behavior of substances, particularly gases and liquids, is significantly temperature-dependent, complicating the relationship further. Overall, while some connections exist, a general formula remains elusive due to these complexities.
LeoYard
Messages
16
Reaction score
0
How does heat capacity relate (mathematically) to density?
I imagine first relating entropy to density, it will depend on the molecular structure and everything, but is there a general formula ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volumetric_heat_capacity

I found this link, and it deals with Volumetric Heat Capacity. It is not exactly what I'm looking for.

Can one make the assumption that decrease in density leads to increase in degrees of freedom, entropy?
 
Science news on Phys.org
The effect may depend on the phase: solid, liquid or gas. Even in solids, metals, ceramics, organic molecules are all different.

Some relevant discussion, but not enough detail.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/dulong.html
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/inteng.html

Certainly the interatomic or intermolecular forces change with decreasing density, which would seem to introduce changes in atomic vibration and perhaps introduce modes which would otherwise not be present because of constraint. The amplitude of vibration would also change.
 
Thank you for the links. So, we can't be more specific than that. I thought of excluding solids. But, still the way substance (gas or liquid) behaves depends very much on its temperature in non-trivial ways.
 
I was watching a Khan Academy video on entropy called: Reconciling thermodynamic and state definitions of entropy. So in the video it says: Let's say I have a container. And in that container, I have gas particles and they're bouncing around like gas particles tend to do, creating some pressure on the container of a certain volume. And let's say I have n particles. Now, each of these particles could be in x different states. Now, if each of them can be in x different states, how many total...
Thread 'Why work is PdV and not (P+dP)dV in an isothermal process?'
Let's say we have a cylinder of volume V1 with a frictionless movable piston and some gas trapped inside with pressure P1 and temperature T1. On top of the piston lay some small pebbles that add weight and essentially create the pressure P1. Also the system is inside a reservoir of water that keeps its temperature constant at T1. The system is in equilibrium at V1, P1, T1. Now let's say i put another very small pebble on top of the piston (0,00001kg) and after some seconds the system...
Back
Top