PHYS 515: HW 12

Quiz: Thu 19 Apr 2018

1. Consider the Clausius-Clapeyron equation,

dp ∆S
= , (1)
dT ∆V
which relates the slope of a phase boundary in the pressure–temperature plane to the
changes in entropy and volume when the boundary is crossed. If one of the phases
is a gas, its volume V is usually much larger than that of the other phase: ∆V =
V − Vother ≈ V .

(a) Using the relation ∆S = L/T , where L is the latent heat, and treating the gas as
ideal, express the righthand side of Eq. 1 entirely in terms of p, T , L, kB , and the
number of molecules N .
(b) Separate variables to show that if the latent heat is independent of temperature,
the phase boundary is defined by
  
L 1 1
p = p0 exp − − (2)
N kB T T0

for some reference temperature and pressure T0 and p0 .

2. If the boiling temperature of water is T0 = 373 K at sea level, what is the boiling
temperature T one mile above sea level? Hint: use Eq. 2 and assume an isothermal
model of the atmosphere to estimate the pressure drop. The latent heat of vaporization
for a mole of water is 40 kJ/mol.

3. [After Reif Problem 8.2] For a particular substance, the phase boundary between solid
and gas is given by p = ps e−Ls /(N kB T ) , where ps is a constant, and Ls is the latent heat of
sublimation. The phase boundary between liquid and gas is given by p = pv e−Lv /(N kB T ) ,
where pv is a constant, and Lv is the latent heat of vaporization.

(a) Find the temperature of the triple point in terms of the given variables.
(b) Use energy conservation in the vicinity of the triple point to relate the latent heat
of melting Lm to Ls and Lv .

4. [After Reif Problem 8.8] A metal bar of mass m, height a, width b, and length c is
lodged within a block of ice, as shown in the figure. The entire system is at maintained
at the solid-liquid coexistence temperature of water T (273 K). The acceleration due
to gravity is g. The mass densities of ice and liquid water are ρi and ρw , respectively,
and the latent heat of melting of water per unit mass is `.

(a) Is the pressure larger at the top or bottom of the bar?

(b) Find the pressure difference ∆p in terms of the given variables.

1
(c) Is the temperature larger at the top or bottom of the bar?
(d) Use Eq. 1 to find the temperature difference ∆T in terms of the given variables.
You may approximate dp/dt ≈ ∆p/∆T .

c
a m g