Two thermally insulated tanks, calculating final temperature and final pressure

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves two thermally insulated tanks containing neon gas, which are connected by a valve that is initially closed. Upon opening the valve, the gases mix, and the discussion centers around determining the final temperature and pressure of the system.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss using the ideal gas law (PV=nRT) to find the number of molecules and the final conditions of the gases in the tanks. There is mention of averaging temperatures and considering heat transfer between the tanks. Some participants express confusion about how to calculate final pressure and temperature simultaneously.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different methods to approach the problem. Some have provided hints and partial solutions, while others express uncertainty and seek further clarification on the calculations involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of a homework assignment, which may limit the information they can use or the methods they can apply. There is also a hint that the heat gained by one tank equals the heat lost by the other, which is a key assumption in the problem.

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The drawing shows two thermally insulated tanks. drawing is located at:
http://www.webassign.net/CJ/14_26.gif
They are connected by a valve that is initially closed. Each tank contains neon gas at the pressure, temperature, and volume indicated in the drawing. When the valve is opened, the contents of the two tanks mix, and the pressure becomes constant throughout.

(a) What is the final temperature? Ignore any change in temperature of the tanks themselves.(Hint: The heat gained by the gas in one tank is equal to that lost by the other.)
________K
(b) What is the final pressure?
________Pa
 
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I'm pretty sure this is right:

First, get:

Final Volume: Sum of the tanks
Final Pressure: Average of the tanks, because the number of molecules is constant
Final Temperature: We'll find this out now

use PV=nRT

1. Solve for n (number of molecules) in each tank.

2. Sum the number of molecules in the two tanks.

3. Use PV=nRT again using the "Final" values of Volume, Pressure, and # of molecules.

4. ?

5. Profit!
 
but this only solves for the finall temperature. what about the final pressure?
 
actually i got the answer completely wrong
 
please i need a real solution. i really need to pull up my physics grade
 
Give me a minute.
 
Hahaha redeem myself. O Yes I will sire.

I suppose I will give this a shot.

(a) Follow the hint, the heat gain by 1 tank = heat loss by the other. Hence the temperature should be averaged out by the two. And what's the average between 220 and 580?
 
400k
 
That's right, use this to find the number of molecules in individual tanks, then you should be able to get the answer for pressure.
 
  • #10
I can't get this man, here what's I've got, but it doesn't come out right, maybe it will lead you somewhere.

Use PV=nRT for each tank and solve for 'n', the # of molecules.

Sum the number of molecules to get the total.

So you have
Total Volume, Total Molecules, and R, but you don't have P and T, which is what you DO need...

I'm stuck man...

Sorry.
 
  • #11
how do i do that
 
  • #12
After opening the valve you have one container with volume equal to the sum of both tanks, and the amount of gas equal to the sum of the moles initially present in both tanks. You can write the idel gas law for this container, too.

You can do the same with the internal energy. It is the sum of the initial internal energies of the gas in both tanks.

The internal energy of an ideal gas is the sum of the kinetic energy of its particles.

ehild
 
  • #13
can u write an equation for me so i can visualize this better
 
  • #14
U=Cv*n*T

ehild
 
  • #15
and what variables do i plug in?
 
  • #16
T for temperature, n for number of moles and Cv for molar heat capacity of the neon gas at constant pressure .

ehild
 

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