Work Done by Gas: Ideal Diatomic Process

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
7 replies · 4K views
Hlud
Messages
72
Reaction score
6

Homework Statement


A 1.00 mol sample of an ideal diatomic gas at a pressure of 1.00 atm and temperature of 420 K undergoes a process in which its pressure increases linearly with temperature. The final temperature and pressure are 720 K and 1.60 atm. Determine the work done by this gas during this process.

Homework Equations


PV = nRT and W = int(PdV)

The Attempt at a Solution


So, i checked online for a solution and checked the official solutions manual, after i was stumped for awhile. My biggest issue is that both agree that volume changes. But if P = nR/V *T, and P varies linearly with T, then how is V not a constant? Or if it is changing, then how is n still a constant?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hlud said:

Homework Statement


A 1.00 mol sample of an ideal diatomic gas at a pressure of 1.00 atm and temperature of 420 K undergoes a process in which its pressure increases linearly with temperature. The final temperature and pressure are 720 K and 1.60 atm. Determine the work done by this gas during this process.

Homework Equations


PV = nRT and W = int(PdV)

The Attempt at a Solution


So, i checked online for a solution and checked the official solutions manual, after i was stumped for awhile. My biggest issue is that both agree that volume changes. But if P = nR/V *T, and P varies linearly with T, then how is V not a constant? Or if it is changing, then how is n still a constant?
It's a 1 mole sample. What does that tell you about n ?
 
If n is constant, then how is V not constant? The slope of the straight line (in this case slope = nR/V) should be constant. If n and R are to be constants, then i assume that V should be constant as well. However, neither solution i have checked show this.
 
Hlud said:
If n is constant, then how is V not constant? The slope of the straight line (in this case slope = nR/V) should be constant. If n and R are to be constants, then i assume that V should be constant as well. However, neither solution i have checked show this.
It must be that there is heat transfer involved as well.
 
I am missing something. If heat is added, can the temperature still vary linearly with pressure? Or is it no longer an ideal gas.
 
SammyS said:
The statement says that P varies linearly with T. It does not say that they are proportional.

So, there must be a nonzero y-intercept. Thanks, that clears it up!