Why does sprinkling of water reduces temperature of a closed room?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the thermodynamic principle that sprinkling water in a closed room reduces temperature due to the water absorbing heat until it reaches thermal equilibrium with the room. Participants explore various physics concepts, including wave interference, stationary waves, and the behavior of gases under different thermodynamic processes. Key equations discussed include Q(isothermal) = nRT ln(Vf/Vi) and Q(isobaric) = nCp(T2-T1), which are essential for comparing energy transfer in isothermal and isobaric processes. The conversation also touches on the effectiveness of hot versus cold water for extinguishing fires, emphasizing the heat absorption properties of water.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of wave mechanics, specifically beat frequency and wave interference.
  • Familiarity with thermodynamic processes, particularly isothermal and isobaric processes.
  • Knowledge of stationary wave patterns and the concept of reflection coefficients.
  • Basic principles of heat transfer and thermal equilibrium.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the concept of beat frequency in wave mechanics and how it applies to sound waves.
  • Learn about the reflection coefficient and its application in stationary wave analysis.
  • Investigate the differences between isothermal and isobaric processes in thermodynamics.
  • Research the heat absorption properties of water and its effectiveness in fire extinguishing techniques.
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in physics, particularly those studying thermodynamics and wave mechanics, as well as individuals interested in practical applications of heat transfer and fire safety.

gaganpreetsingh
Messages
24
Reaction score
0
Hi, I have a few questions from waves, thermodyanamics and capacitors. Please help me with them.

Two vibrating tuning forks produce progressive waves given by
y1 = 4 sin(500pt) ... p = pi = 3.14159 and t is time
y2 = 2 sin(506pt).
Then how many beats are heard per minute?
-- How do I deal with it? If I try to add them trigonometrically, I am unable to express it as a product of two trigonometrical functions, which is necessary.

In a stationary wave pattern that is formed as a result of reflection from an obstacle, the ratio of the amplitude at an antinode and a node is b = 1.5. What percentage of energy passes through the obstacle?
-- Any hint please because I have no idea how to begin with this question.

Some gas at 300K is enclosed in a container. Now it is placed in a fast moving train. Then what will happen to the temperature of the gas?

The initial pressure (P) and Volume(V) are same. Two processes one isothermal and other isobaric are carried out both ending at the same volume. In which case is more energy given to the gas as heat?
-- I know Q(isothermal) = nRT ln(Vf/Vi) Vf = final volume, Vi = initial volume
Q(isobaric) = n Cp (T2-T1) Cp= Molar specific heat at constant P.
How do I compare these expressions?


Why does sprinkling of water reduces temperature of a closed room?
-- I think this is so because water absorbs the heat to get to the same temperature as that of the room. Am I right?

What will happen if a substance has infinite specific heat?

Which is better to extinguish a fire - hot water, cold water, ice?
-- I am confused with this as the answer is given hot water. Ice must be the answer, according to me, because it can absorb maximum heat before evaporating.

And last but not the least,
The capacity of a capacitor is 1F. It's resistance in a DC circuit will be infinite or zero?
-- If in a circuit there is a capacitor we initially replace it with a wire and after a long time we replace it with a broken wire. So the answer must be both. Am I right?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Yikes, what, are you saving these up?!

gaganpreetsingh said:
Hi, I have a few questions from waves, thermodyanamics and capacitors. Please help me with them.

Two vibrating tuning forks produce progressive waves given by
y1 = 4 sin(500pt) ... p = pi = 3.14159 and t is time
y2 = 2 sin(506pt).
Then how many beats are heard per minute?
-- How do I deal with it? If I try to add them trigonometrically, I am unable to express it as a product of two trigonometrical functions, which is necessary.

Do you know what causes beats? You should be able to answer this one by inspection, as long as you are clear what causes beats.

In a stationary wave pattern that is formed as a result of reflection from an obstacle, the ratio of the amplitude at an antinode and a node is b = 1.5. What percentage of energy passes through the obstacle?
-- Any hint please because I have no idea how to begin with this question.

The reflection coefficient equation should help you on this one. What is the definition of the reflection coefficient? How is the shape of a standing wave altered if the left-going wave is smaller in amplitude than the right-going wave?

Some gas at 300K is enclosed in a container. Now it is placed in a fast moving train. Then what will happen to the temperature of the gas?

The initial pressure (P) and Volume(V) are same. Two processes one isothermal and other isobaric are carried out both ending at the same volume. In which case is more energy given to the gas as heat?
-- I know Q(isothermal) = nRT ln(Vf/Vi) Vf = final volume, Vi = initial volume
Q(isobaric) = n Cp (T2-T1) Cp= Molar specific heat at constant P.
How do I compare these expressions?

Sorry, I'm of no help on this one. Seems like the temperture might go up a little bit from the acceleration to the speed of the train, but I don't know how to calculate it.

Why does sprinkling of water reduces temperature of a closed room?
-- I think this is so because water absorbs the heat to get to the same temperature as that of the room. Am I right?

Seems to depend on the temperature of the water going into the room. Hot water would heat the room up, not cool it off.

What will happen if a substance has infinite specific heat?

Dunno. It would suck the heat out of everything else?

Which is better to extinguish a fire - hot water, cold water, ice?
-- I am confused with this as the answer is given hot water. Ice must be the answer, according to me, because it can absorb maximum heat before evaporating.

Interesting question. Water does two things to help put out a fire. It blocks oxygen from getting to the fire, and it absorbs heat. Maybe the hot water turns to steam more easily, and the energy absorbed in the phase change is higher than just from the fire heating up cold water. Sounds like a good thing for some experimental trials... (or a google search would be safer, I guess...)

And last but not the least,
The capacity of a capacitor is 1F. It's resistance in a DC circuit will be infinite or zero?
-- If in a circuit there is a capacitor we initially replace it with a wire and after a long time we replace it with a broken wire. So the answer must be both. Am I right?

Think about what a simple capacitor is. Two parallel plates with non-conductive stuff between them, like air or plastic or vacuum. What's the DC resistance going to be...? In a practical capacitor, you will get leakage current through the dielectric, so the DC resistance is just large, not infinite.
 
>Two vibrating tuning forks produce progressive waves given by
>y1 = 4 sin(500pt) ... p = pi = 3.14159 and t is time
>y2 = 2 sin(506pt).
>Then how many beats are heard per minute?
Beats are caused by waves that have close frequency and they interfere. For same amplitude we just subtract their frequency. But the question here has different amplitudes. Is the rule still applicable?

>In a stationary wave pattern that is formed as a result of reflection from >an obstacle, the ratio of the amplitude at an antinode and a node is b = >1.5. What percentage of energy passes through the obstacle?
>-- Any hint please because I have no idea how to begin with this >question
I have no idea about it. Because this question is the first one I have seen of this type. Looks like I need to read some theory about it.
 
gaganpreetsingh said:
>Two vibrating tuning forks produce progressive waves given by
>y1 = 4 sin(500pt) ... p = pi = 3.14159 and t is time
>y2 = 2 sin(506pt).
>Then how many beats are heard per minute?
Beats are caused by waves that have close frequency and they interfere. For same amplitude we just subtract their frequency. But the question here has different amplitudes. Is the rule still applicable?

Yes. Think more about what is causing the beat -- it's the temporary alighment of crests and troughs in amplitude as one waveform rolls in phase through the other. For sound, our ears hear a louder sound at the moment that the two sound waves have aligning crests in the pressure waves flowing past us, and the beat is the quietest when the crests of one wave line up with the troughs of the other. It helps to use Excel or Mathematica or Matlab to play with waveform plots and additions to get a better feel for what is going on.

>In a stationary wave pattern that is formed as a result of reflection from >an obstacle, the ratio of the amplitude at an antinode and a node is b = >1.5. What percentage of energy passes through the obstacle?
>-- Any hint please because I have no idea how to begin with this >question
I have no idea about it. Because this question is the first one I have seen of this type. Looks like I need to read some theory about it.
Definitely read about the reflection coefficient, how it relates to the characteristic impedance in the different domains that the wave is traveling through, and what you can use it for (like for solving this problem).
 
The initial pressure (P) and Volume(V) are same. Two processes one isothermal and other isobaric are carried out both ending at the same volume. In which case is more energy given to the gas as heat?

Any help with this question?
 
You might want to post that last question as a new thread, with a descriptive title to help folks know if they can be of help in answering it. Something like "Isothermal versus Isobaric Process Question..."
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
Replies
6
Views
895
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 41 ·
2
Replies
41
Views
6K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
6K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K