Chapter 15

UNIT 13
The first Law of
Thermodynamics,
Thermodynamic
Processes,
Thermodynamic process
for an Ideal Gas

15.1
15.2
15.3
Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

15.1

THE FIRST LAW OF

THERMODYNAMICS

Both work and heat can change the internal energy of a system.
These two methods of changing the internal energy of a system
lead to the first law of thermodynamics.
First Law of Thermodynamics
The change in internal energy of a system is equal to the heat
flow into the system plus the work done on the system.

Slide 2

15.1

THE FIRST LAW OF

THERMODYNAMICS

Slide 3

Example
In part (a) of figure, the system gains 1500J of heat and
2200J of work is done by the system on its surroundings.
In part (b), the system also gains 1500J of heat, but 2200J
of work is done on the system.
In each case, calculate the change in internal energy
of the system.
SOLUTION
(a)

U = Q + W = (+ 1500 J ) + ( 2200 J ) = 700 J

(b) U = Q + W = (+ 1500 J ) + (+ 2200 J ) = +3700 J

Example 15.1 [SELF STUDY]

Katie works out on an elliptical trainer for 30 min. During the workout, she
does work (pushing the machine with her feet) at an average rate of 220 W.
Heat flows from her body into the surroundings by evaporation, convection,
and radiation at an average rate of 910 W.
(a) What is the change in her internal energy during the workout?
(b) One serving of pasta supplies 1.0 MJ (240 kcal) of internal energy. How
many servings of pasta would supply enough internal energy for the
workout?

Slide 5

15.2

THERMODYNAMIC PROCESSES

A thermodynamic process is the method by which a system is changed

from one state to another. The state of a system is described by a set of
state variables such as pressure, temperature, volume, number of
moles, and internal energy.
THERMODYNAMIC PROCESSES
isobaric: constant pressure
isochoric: constant volume
isothermal: constant temperature
adiabatic: no transfer of heat

Slide 6

15.2

THERMODYNAMIC PROCESSES

The PV Diagram
The absolute value of work is the area under the curve of the
pressure as a function of volume, p(V) is a function of
volume, in a P - V diagram

The magnitude of the total work done on the gas is the area under the PV
curve.
W = P V = P V V

Slide 7

W = P V = P (V f Vi )
During an increase in volume, V is positive and the work done on
the gas is negative.
W < 0 Vinitial < V final
During a decrease in volume, V is negative and the work done on the
gas is positive.
W > 0 Vinitial > V final

Slide 8

Work Done During a Closed Cycle

Example
Sketch a PV diagram and find the
work done by the gas during
the following stages.
(a) A gas is expanded from a
volume of 1.0 L to 3.0 L at a
constant pressure of 3.0 atm.
WBY = PV = 3x105 (0.003 0.001) = 600 J

(b) The gas is then cooled at a

constant volume until the
pressure falls to 2.0 atm

W = PV = 0
since V = 0

Example Continued
(c)
The gas is then compressed
at a constant
pressure of 2.0 atm
from a volume of 3.0 L to 1.0 L.

WON = PV = 2 x105 (0.001 .003) =

400 J

(d)
The gas is then heated until
its pressure increases from 2.0 atm
to 3.0 atm at a constant volume.

W = PV = 0
since V = 0

What is the NET

WORK?
600 J + 400 J = 200 J

Rule of thumb: If the system rotates

Clock Wise (CW), the NET work is
negative.
If the system rotates Counter-Clock Wise
(CCW), the NET work is positive.

NET work is
the area inside
the shape.

15.2

THERMODYNAMIC PROCESSES

Constant-Pressure Processes
A process by which the state of a system is changed while the pressure
is held constant is called an isobaric process.

Slide 12

Constant-Volume Processes
A process by which the state of a system is changed while the volume
remains constant is called an isochoric process.
isochoric: constant volume

W = PV = P(V f Vi

But V f V i = 0 since V f = Vi

U = Q + W
W =0

U = Q

For isochoric process

15.2

THERMODYNAMIC PROCESSES

Constant-Temperature Processes
A process in which the temperature of the system remains constant is
called an isothermal process.

Vf
W = nRT ln
Vi

U = 32 nR(T f Ti )
The change in the internal energy of an ideal gas undergoing isothermal
expansion or compression is zero, thus from first law of
thermodynamics for a closed system it follows that
Q = -W

Slide 14

15.2

THERMODYNAMIC PROCESSES

Adiabatic Processes
A process in which no heat is transferred into or out of the system is
called an adiabatic process.

NB: An adiabatic process is not the same as a constant-temperature

(isothermal) process. In an isothermal process, heat flow into or out of a
system is necessary to maintain a constant temperature. In an adiabatic
process, no heat flow occurs, so if work is done, the temperature of the
system may change.

Slide 15

15.2

THERMODYNAMIC PROCESSES

Slide 16

15.3

THERMODYNAMIC PROCESSES
FOR AN IDEAL GAS

Constant Temperature

It can be shown that

At constant temperature we have that

Pf
W = nRT ln
Pi

Slide 17

Example 15.3
An ideal gas is kept in thermal contact with a heat reservoir at 7C (280
K) while it is compressed from a volume of 20.0 L to a volume of 10.0
L. During the compression, an average force of 33.3 kN is used to move
the piston a distance of 0.15 m. (a) Calculate how much heat is
exchanged between the gas and the reservoir. (b) Does the heat flow
into or out of the gas?

Slide 18

Example 15.3
Solution
(a)

(b) Since positive Q represents heat flow into the gas, the negative sign
tells us that heat flows out of the gas into the reservoir.

Slide 19

Example ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES

Example A
One gram of water is placed in the cylinder
and the pressure is maintained at 2.0x105Pa.
The temperature of the water is raised by
31C. The water is in the liquid phase and
expands by the small amount of 1.0x10-8m3.
Calculate the work done and the change in
internal energy. [Specific heat of water is
4186 J/(kg.C)

Example

Solution
W = PV
= (2.0 105 Pa )(1.0 10 8 m 3 ) = 0.0020J

U = Q + W = 129.766 J 0.002 J = 129.764J

)](

Q = mcT = (0.001 kg ) 4186 J kg C o 31 Co = 129.766 J

Example

Example B
Two moles of the monatomic gas argon expand
isothermally at 298K from and initial volume of 0.025m3
to a final volume of 0.050 m3. Assuming that argon is an
ideal gas, find (a) the work done by the gas, (b) the
change in internal energy of the gas, and (c) the heat
supplied to the gas.

Example

SOLUTION
(a)

Vf
W = nRT ln
Vi

0.050 m 3
= 3400
= (2.0 mol)(8.31J (mol K ))(298 K )ln
3
0.025 m
(b)

(c)

U = 32 nRT f 32 nRTi = 0

U = Q + W
Q = W = ( 3400 J ) = +3400 J

Example
Example C
Calculate the work for an isothermal expansion between pi = 1 atm and
pf = 0.1 atm for 10 mol of an ideal gas at temperature 0C.
SOLUTION: For an isothermal process:
Vinitial
W = nRT ln

V final

Therefore:

PFINAL
W = nRT ln
PINITIAL

J
0.1
W = (10mol )(8.314
)(273K ) ln = 52.3kJ
K mol
1.0

Example
Therefore:

pinitial
W = nRT ln

p final

J
1.0
W = (10mol )(8.314
)(273K ) ln
K mol
0.1
W = 52.3kJ