How Does Mixing Ideal Gases in a Thermally Insulated Cylinder Affect Pressure?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a rigid piston cylinder containing two types of ideal gases, A and B, separated by a piston. The gases are thermally insulated, and their initial conditions include different temperatures and quantities. The scenario explores the effects of mixing these gases after opening a door in the piston, specifically focusing on the resulting pressure after mixing is complete.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the final state variables such as volume, number of molecules, and temperature after the gases mix. There are questions about the work done on the piston and how to determine the final temperature. Some participants express confusion regarding the initial temperature conditions of the gases.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants raising questions about the implications of the initial conditions and the thermodynamic principles involved. There is no explicit consensus yet, but several lines of inquiry are being explored, particularly regarding the effects of temperature differences and the work done by the system.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the complexities of the first law of thermodynamics in relation to the insulated system and the implications of the rigid container on work and heat transfer. There is a noted confusion about the initial temperature definitions of the gases, which may affect the analysis.

Uthpala Kaushalya
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Homework Statement



Consider a rigid piston cylinder arrangement. Assume that the cylinder and the piston are covered by a perfectly insulating material and the piston cylinder interface is very smooth. Two types of ideal gases are separated in the cylinder by the piston. The number of gas molecules of type A is equal to N and the number of gas molecules of type B is twice as that of A. At thermal equilibrium, one finds that the volume occupied by each of gases is the same and equal to V. the temperature of the gas is T, and the temperature of the gas A is twice that of gas B. After a certain time, a door in the piston is slowly opened and the gases are allowed to mix. Find the pressure, after mixing is complete.

Homework Equations


PV = N KbT

The Attempt at a Solution

 

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Set the equation you wrote with the variables in the final state after the piston was opened

What is the final V?
The final N?
The final T?
 
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Cozma Alex said:
Set the equation you wrote with the variables in the final state after the piston was opened

What is the final V?
The final N?
The final T?

But, isn't there a work done for pushing the piston?
 
Cozma Alex said:
Set the equation you wrote with the variables in the final state after the piston was opened

What is the final V?
The final N?
The final T?

And how to find the final T ?
 
Is the same as before
 
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Cozma Alex said:
Is the same as before

The two gases are in two different temperature, aren't they? When applying the equation to the whole system, ( final state ) we need a temperature.
 
Ahhh, sorry I made a mistake
 
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What does this mean: "the temperature of the gas is T, and the temperature of the gas A is twice that of gas B."
 
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Chestermiller said:
What does this mean: "the temperature of the gas is T, and the temperature of the gas A is twice that of gas B."

Sorry, it should be "Temperature of the gas A is T, and the temperature of the gas A is twice that of gas B"
 
  • #10
If the outer container is rigid, how much work W does the combined system of two gases do on their surroundings? If the outer container is insulated, how much heat Q gets transferred between the combined system of two gases and their surroundings? From the first law of thermodynamics, what does that tell you about the change in internal energy ##\Delta U## of the combined system of two gases?
 

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