Thermodynamics: ideal gas undergoing an isothermal process

atlantic
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Homework Statement



For an ideal gas, undergoing a quasistatic process, the equations below are correct. Evaluate them given that we have an isothermal process

Homework Equations



PV^\alpha=K where K is a constant and \alpha=C-C_P/C-C_V

W = \frac{K}{\alpha -1} (\frac{1}{V_f^{\alpha-1}}-\frac{1}{V_i^{\alpha-1}})
Q = C(T_f -T_i)
\Delta S= Cln\frac{T_f}{T_i}



The Attempt at a Solution


For an isothermal process, ΔT = 0, but what does that mean for the equations given? First I though it would mean that C→∞, but that would mean that Q=0 and W→∞ (because \alpha→1), which clearly is not correct.

How should I argue?
 
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Or does these equations not apply for isothermal processes?
 
atlantic said:

Homework Statement



For an ideal gas, undergoing a quasistatic process, the equations below are correct. Evaluate them given that we have an isothermal process

Homework Equations



PV^\alpha=K where K is a constant and \alpha=C-C_P/C-C_V
This looks wrong. For example, if it's an isothermal process, α = 1 but then (C-Cp)/(C-Cv) = 1 or Cp = Cv which is definitely not true for an ideal gas.
 
rude man said:
This looks wrong. For example, if it's an isothermal process, α = 1 but then (C-Cp)/(C-Cv) = 1 or Cp = Cv which is definitely not true for an ideal gas.

I though α=1 because C→∞ (C=Q/dT, where dT→0)?

Anyways, I'm thinking that these equations are not good to use when the process is isothermal, as the equations for the work, heat and entropy becomes of the type: ∞ muliplied with 0. Do you think this is a good conclusion?
 
The point of the problem might be to figure out how these indeterminate forms can be evaluated and to show the result is what you'd expect for an isothermal process.
 
To solve this, I first used the units to work out that a= m* a/m, i.e. t=z/λ. This would allow you to determine the time duration within an interval section by section and then add this to the previous ones to obtain the age of the respective layer. However, this would require a constant thickness per year for each interval. However, since this is most likely not the case, my next consideration was that the age must be the integral of a 1/λ(z) function, which I cannot model.
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