Inquiry-Based Activity 2: Piston/Cylinder Simulation

Student Name or Number __________________________

In this experiment, you will be simulating expansion and contraction of an ideal gas in a piston-
cylinder system. You can perform an adiabatic, isothermal, isobaric or isochoric steps with the
piston and create a cycle that returns the piston to its initial state. After you have completed the
cycle, the thermal efficiency of the cycle will be shown along with the efficiency for a Carnot
engine or heat pump running between the same temperatures.

Materials:
1 computer with web browser and Macromedia Flash per person or team
An internet connection
Link: http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/mvigeant/Thermo_JS/Piston/cycle-
modeler.html
Directions:

1. Consider a thermodynamic engine cycle. A typical heat-engine cycle consists of four

steps, during which heat energy is added to the system, work is done by the system,
waste heat is rejected from the system, and work is done on the system. What is the
best efficiency that you can achieve? What if you assume frictionless and reversible?
What if you skip the waste heat step?

2. Open the Piston Cylinder program if it is not already open and click on where it says
Click here to continue, at the web address specified by your faculty. Note that in
the calculations for the program, the piston is assumed to be frictionless and all the
steps are reversible.

3. To learn how to use this simulation, please implement this sample cycle. Using the
program, perform the following steps:
a. Isothermal expansion from 40 cm to 60 cm.
b. Isochoric cooling from 293 K to 193 K.
c. Isothermal compression from 60 cm to 40 cm.
d. Isochoric heating from 193 K to 293 K.
This is a Stirling Cycle.
4. What was the efficiency for this cycle? ________
5. What was the Carnot efficiency? ________

Inquiry-based materials for entropy NSF DUE-0717536 2011 all rights reserved
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 6. Spend 5-10 minutes trying different combinations of steps of your own choosing.
Try to create a cycle where there is no step rejecting waste heat. Note the different
steps you take below.

7. Were you able to create an engine cycle that omits the waste heat step?

8. What have you noticed about the efficiencies of your cycles compared to the Carnot
values at the same temperatures?

Analysis to be completed after lab and handed in:

1. Revisit your predictions in question 1 of Directions. Were you right? Compare your
initial predictions to what actually happened.
2. If what was observed contrasts your prediction, explain what happened and why.
Discuss the experiment with your group before answering.
3. While using the simulator, were you able to create a cycle without a waste heat
step? What does this tell you about such steps?
Note: Please discuss your answers with at least one classmate. When turning in this
assignment, be sure to include your original prediction in addition to the answers to
the analysis questions.
4. Please visit the website link provided by your professor to answer a few questions
about this activity. Dont forget to include your name / identifying number.

Inquiry-based materials for entropy NSF DUE-0717536 2011 all rights reserved
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