What is the final pressure inside the thermos after dropping in a piece of iron?

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SUMMARY

The final pressure inside a thermos containing 500 ml of boiling liquid nitrogen and a 200-gram piece of iron at 25 degrees Celsius can be determined using the ideal gas law and heat transfer principles. Initially, the thermos has nitrogen gas at 1 atmosphere and liquid nitrogen at its boiling point of 77.2 K. When the iron is introduced, it cools down, transferring heat to the liquid nitrogen, which causes some of it to vaporize. The calculations involve determining the volume of nitrogen gas after the iron is added and applying the ideal gas law to find the final pressure.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the ideal gas law (PV = NkT)
  • Knowledge of heat transfer principles and phase changes
  • Familiarity with the properties of liquid nitrogen and nitrogen gas
  • Basic thermodynamics concepts related to temperature and pressure
NEXT STEPS
  • Calculate the heat energy transferred from the iron to the liquid nitrogen
  • Determine the volume of nitrogen gas produced from the vaporization of liquid nitrogen
  • Apply the ideal gas law to find the final pressure in the thermos
  • Explore the effects of time on heat diffusion and its relevance to the problem
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Students studying thermodynamics, physics enthusiasts, and anyone solving problems related to gas laws and heat transfer in closed systems.

spherical23
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Homework Statement



A well insulated 2 liter thermos bottle contains 500 ml of boiling liquid Nitrogen, and the remainder of the thermos has Nitrogen gas at 1 atmosphere in equilibrium with the liquid. You drop a 200 gram piece of iron at 25 degrees Celsius inside and seal the cap. After 5 seconds, what is the pressure inside the thermos?

Homework Equations



[tex]\rho[/tex] liquid nitrogen = 810 kg/m3

[tex]\rho[/tex] iron = 7.87 g/cm3

PV = NkT

I think that I need more equations to solve the problem, but I don't know what they are.

The Attempt at a Solution



V total = 2 L = 0.002 m3

V liquid nitrogen = 500 ml = 500 * 10-3 L = 0.5 L = 0.0005 m3

before dropping the iron in: V nitrogen gas = 0.002 m3 - 0.0005 m3 = 0.0015 m3

V iron: [tex]\rho[/tex] = mV [tex]\rightarrow[/tex] 7.87 g/cm3 = 200g(V) [tex]\rightarrow[/tex] V = 0.03935 cm3 = 0.0003935 m3

after dropping the iron in: V nitrogen gas = 0.0015 m3 - 0.0003935 m3 = 0.0011065 m3

Tinitial of liquid nitrogen = boiling point at 1 atm = 77.2 K

Tinitial of iron = 25 degrees Celsius = 298 K

Pinitial of liquid nitrogen = Pinitial of nitrogen gas = 1 atm = 0.013 * 105 Pa

[tex]\Delta[/tex]t = 5 seconds

Pfinal = ?

I just don't know which equation to use.
 
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You need to work out how much heat energy the iron gives up when cooled (assume final T of iron = LN2)
Assume this energy goes into boiling extra LN2.
Work out how much extra N2 this generates.
Then it's just gas laws for the pressure.

The 5 seconds is tricky, are you sure about that part? Unless you are expected to calculate heat diffusion rate from the iron it's irrelevant.
 
thanks, i will give that a try and then reply again when i come up with something. i think the 5 seconds is just enough for relaxation time so that we don't have to worry about anything during the relaxation time.
 

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