Practice Problems 2

Thermodynamics & Statistical mechanics

1. Show that efficiency of the Carnots engine is equal to = 1

T2
T1

2. Figure represents a simplified P V diagram of the joule ideal gas cycle. All processes are quasi-static, and Cp is constant.
Prove that the thermal efficiency of the engine performing this cycle is
=1

 P (1)/
1

P2

3. A Carnot engine has a cycle as shown in figure. If W and W represent work done by 1 mole of monatomic and diatomic
0
gas, respectively, calculate W/W .

4. Find the efficiency of engine in figure, Assume that operating substance is an ideal monoatomic gas. Express your
answer in terms of V1 and V2 . (The processes 1 2 and 3 4 are adiabatic. The processes 4 1 and 2 3 occur at
constant volume).

5. Two identical bodies have internal energy U = N CT , with a constant C. The value of N and C are same for each
body. The initial temperatures of the bodies are T1 and T2 , and they are used as a source of work by connecting them
to a Carnot heat engine and bringing them to a common final temperature
(a) What is the final temperature Tf ?
(b) What is the work delivered ?
6. Using internal energy equations, show that internal energy of an ideal gas is a function of Temperature only ?

7. The internal energy, u, of a unit volume of a gas is a function of T only and the equation of state for the gas is given
by P = 13 u(T ). Determine the functional form of u(T ) ?
8. Show that the specific heat at constant volume for a van der Waals gas is a function of T only and find the expression
for its internal energy ?
Answers:
1. 2. 3. 1/3
4. = 1
5. (a)

V1
V2

2/3

T1 T 2

(b) N C(T1 + T2 2Tf )

6. 7. T 4
RT
8.
CV dT

a
V

+ U0