Gas laws and Kinetic Theory

1.

A student pours 500 g of water into an aluminium saucepan of mass 1.20 kg, heats it over a
steady flame and records the temperature as it heats up. The temperatures are plotted as
shown below.
55
T e m p e ra tu re /C
50
45
40
35
30
25
20

10

15

20
25
T im e /m in u te s

Calculate the total heat capacity of the saucepan and water.

Specific heat capacity of water

Specific heat capacity of aluminium

=
=

4200 J kg-1 K-1

900 J kg-1 K-1

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Heat capacity = .........................................................
(3)

Find the rate of rise of water temperature at the beginning of the heating process.
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Rate of rise of temperature = .........................................................
(2)

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Hence find the rate at which energy is supplied to the saucepan and water.
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Rate of energy supply = .........................................................
(2)

Explain why the rate at which the temperature rises slows down progressively as the heating
process continues.
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(2)
(Total 9 marks)

2.

Transfers of energy may be either heating or working.

When an electric fire is used to warm a room the energy is transferred in several stages. For
each of the stages listed below say whether the energy transfer is heating or working, and give a
reason for your answer.

(a)

From the power supply to the element.

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(b)

From the element to the surrounding air.

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(Total 4 marks)

3.

A small house uses a tank containing 1.2 m 3 water as a thermal store. During the night its
temperature rises to 98 oC. During the day, its temperature drops as the water is pumped round,
the house radiators to keep the house warm.

The density of water is 1 000 kg m3 and its specific heat capacity is 4200 J kg1 K1. Calculate
the energy given out by the water on a day when its temperature drops from 98 C to 65 C.
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Energy = ..................................................................
(3)

The six radiators in the house give out an average power of 1.5 kW each. For how long can they
all operate at this power before the water temperature drops to 65C?
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Time = .....................................................................
(3)

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Explain why this heating system operates more effectively early in the morning than towards
the evening.
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(2)
(Total 8 marks)

4.

A quantity of air is contained in a gas-tight syringe. The piston is clamped so that the volume of
3
5
the air is fixed at 50 cm . When the air is at 0 C its pressure is 1.00 10 Pa. The apparatus is
now heated to 100 C.
Calculate the pressure of the air at 100 C.
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Pressure =...................................
(2)

On the axes below draw a graph to show how the air pressure varies with temperature over the
range 0 C to 100 C. Label your graph A.
P r e s s u r e /1 0 5P a

0
0

20

40

60

80

100

T e m p e ra tu re / C
(2)

The piston is pushed in until the air volume is 25 cm . The piston is then clamped. On the same
axes draw a second graph, labelled B, to show how the pressure would now vary over the same
temperature range.
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

5.

According to kinetic theory, the pressure p of an ideal gas is given by the equation
p=

1
3

where is the gas density and c is the mean squared speed of the molecules.
Express in terms of the number of molecules N, each of mass m, in a volume V.
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(1)

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It is assumed in kinetic theory that the mean kinetic energy of a molecule is proportional to
kelvin temperature T. Use this assumption, and the equation above, to show that under certain
conditions p is proportional to T.
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(2)

State the conditions under which p is proportional to T.

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(2)

A bottle of gas has a pressure of 303 kPa above atmospheric pressure at a temperature of 0C.
The bottle is left outside on a very sunny day and the temperature rises to 35C.
Given that atmospheric pressure is 101 kPa, calculate the new pressure of the gas inside the
bottle.
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Pressure = ..................................................
(3)
(Total 8 marks)

6.

The graph shows the relationship between the pressure p and the volume V of a fixed mass of
dry air.

Write down the formula for this relationship.

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(1)

A uniform thin tube, sealed at one end, contains a thread of mercury which traps a column of
dry air. The other end of the tube is open to the atmosphere.

U n ifo rm
th in tu b e

U n if o r m th in tu b e
2 4 .0 c m

T ra p p e d
d ry a ir

M e rc u ry
th re a d
M e rc u ry th re a d
T ra p p e d d ry a ir

U p rig h t tu b e

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I n v e rte d tu b e

The length of the column of air changes when the tube is inverted. In each case the thread of
5
5
mercury exerts a pressure of 0.20 10 Pa and atmospheric pressure is 1.00 10 Pa.
What is the pressure of the trapped dry air
(i)

when the tube is upright?

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Dry air pressure = ...................................................

(ii)

when the tube is inverted?

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Dry air pressure = ....................................................
(2)

The final length of the column of air is 24.0 cm. Calculate the initial length L in centimetres,
when the tube is upright.
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L = .................................................................
(3)

What assumption did you make about the dry air?

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(1)
(Total 7 marks)