# Homework Help: Help with isotherms and adiabatic curves

1. Feb 16, 2012

### channel1

This is to help me understand a problem in the book, I don't want to state the question I'm attempting to solve though I would rather just get a nudge in the right direction conceptually. (I am analyzing an isotherm and adiabatic curve at the same point.)

My book states that for an ideal gas, an adiabatic curve at any point is always steeper than an isotherm passing through the same point: why is this?

Also, the question I'm given does not explicitly state that I'm dealing with an ideal gas, is the ratio of heat capacities still valid for a van der waals gas (which is the only other type of gas that I know how to deal with)? What about the rule i stated above concerning the slopes at a particular point?

2. Feb 17, 2012

### vivekrai

The equation for an Isothermal Process is given by $PV=\text{Constant}$. Differentiate both sides to get $p \,dV + v\, dP = 0 =\implies \frac{dP}{dV}= - \frac{p}{v}$.

Now the equation for an Adiabatic Process is given by $PV^{\gamma}=\text{Constant}$. Differentiate both sides to get $v^{\gamma}\, dP+\gamma \,v^{\gamma-1}\, p\, dV = 0 \implies \frac{dP}{dV}=-\gamma \frac{p}{v}$.

Obviously, Since γ >1, the slope $\frac{dP}{dV}$ for adiabatic curve is more ie., It is more steeper.

3. Feb 17, 2012

### vivekrai

Ans the ratio of heat capacities won't be same for the Real gases because the Ideal Gas law itself doesn't holds.

4. Feb 17, 2012

### technician

A non mathematical way to look at it is to first realise that 'isothermal' means constant temperature.
If you increase the pressure then heat energy must be removed to make the change isothermal.( Increasing pressure tends to increase temperature as well as decrease volume)
In an adiabatic change no heat energy is allowed to enter or leave the system.
So in an adiabatic compression the temperature of the gas will increase which provides an additional increase in pressure.
This means that the P~V curves are steeper

5. Feb 17, 2012

### channel1

ohhhhh ok thanks guys, together you totally gave me a complete understanding of this---so thanks a ton!!! :D