Practice Problems 3

Thermodynamics & Statistical mechanics

1. A mole of ideal gas undergoes a reversible isothermal expansion from volume V1 to 2V1 .
(a) What is the change in entropy of the gas?
(b) What is the change in entropy of the universe?
Suppose the same expansion takes place as a free expansion
(a) What is the change in entropy of the gas?
(b) What is the change in entropy of the universe?
2. Suppose you are given the following relation among the entropy S, volume V , internal energy U , and the number of
particles N of the thermodynamic system S = A[N V U ]1/3 , where A is a constant. Derive a relation among
(a) U, V, N and T
(b) The pressure P, N, V and T
(c) What is the specific heat at constant volume Cv
3. Prove that two reversible adiabats cannot intersect.
4. Derive the entropy of an ideal gas when its molar heat capacity at constant volume CV is constant?
5. (a) Derive the expression for the efficiency of a Carnot engine directly from a T S diagram.
(b) Compare the efficiencies of cycles A and B of Figure

6. Prove that the slope on a TS diagram of

(a) An isochoric curve is T /CV .
(b) An isobaric curve is T /CP .
7. Why does an isochoric curve plotted on a TS diagram have a greater slope than an isobaric curve at same temperature?
8. A body of constant heat capacity CP and a temperature Ti is put into contact with a reservoir at temperature Tf .
Equilibrium between the body and reservoir is established at constant pressure. Determine the total entropy change ?
Answers:
1. (a) R ln 2
(b) 0
(a) R ln 2
(b) R ln 2
2. (a) T =

3U 2/3
A(N V )1/3

3/2
(b) P = V1 N V ( AT
3 )
q

3
(c) 12 A 3N V T
3. 4. S = CV log T + N K log V + S0
5. (a) = 1

T2
T1

(b) A < B
6. 7. 8. S = CP ( TTfi 1 + ln

Tf
Ti