ME 233 BASIC THERMODYNAMICS

LEC 3
PROPERTIES AND STATE OF A SUBSTANCE
(Problem Solving)
Approach in Problem Solving
Visualize and understand the
situation
Sketch a table or a diagram
Focus on numerical and algebraic
information given
Focus on the expected result
Approach in Problem Solving

Simplify the problem

Remove unnecessary information
Categorize the situation given
 Approach in Problem Solving
Strive to get a mathematical equation and
solution
Substitute appropriate numbers and signs
Round it appropriately
Approach in Problem Solving

Examine your final answer

Try to compare it with other problems
Check units, is it logical?
Problem #1. During a heating process, the
temperature of a system rises by 10°C.
Express this rise in temperature in K, °F, and
R. Ans. 10 K, 18 R, 18⁰F
Problem # 2. A vacuum gage connected to a
chamber reads 5.8 psi at a location where the
atmospheric pressure is 14.5 psi. Determine
the absolute pressure in the chamber.
Ans. 8.7 psi
Problem #3. A manometer is
used to measure the pressure
in a tank. The fluid used has a
specific gravity of 0.85, and
the manometer column height
is 55 cm. If the local
atmospheric pressure is 96
kPa, determine the absolute
pressure within the tank. Ans.
P = 100.6 kPa
Problem #4. The water in a tank is
pressurized by air, and the pressure
is measured by a multifluid
manometer. The tank is located on a
mountain at an altitude of 1400 m
where the atmospheric pressure is
85.6 kPa. Determine the air pressure
in the tank if h1 = 0.1 m, h2 = 0.2 m,
and h3 = 0.35 m. Take the densities
of water, oil, and mercury to be
1000 , 850 , and 13,600 ,
respectively.
Ans. P = 130 kPa
Problem #5. Determine the atmospheric pressure
at a location where the barometric reading is 740
mm Hg and the gravitational acceleration is g
9.81 m/s2. Assume the temperature of mercury to
be 10C, at which its density is 13,570 kg/m3.
Ans. P = 98.5 kPa
Problem #6. A tank contains a mixture of 20 kg of
nitrogen and 20 kg of carbon monoxide. The total tank
volume is Determine the density and specific volume of
the mixture. Ans. 2 0.5

Problem #7. A hiker is carrying a barometer that

measures 101.3 kPa at the base of the mountain. The
barometer reads 85.0 kPa at the top of the mountain. The
average air density is 1.21. Determine the height of the
mountain.
Ans. 1373 m
Problem #8. A hiker is carrying a barometer that
measures 29.92 in Hg absolute at the base of the
mountain. The barometer reads 25.1 in Hg at the
top of the mountain. The average air density is ,
and gravitational acceleration remains constant at
32.174 . What is the mountain's height? Ans.
4486.9 ft
Problem #9. A 1 container is filled with 0.12 of
granite, 0.15 of sand, 0.2 of liquid water, and the
rest of volume, 0.53 , is air. Find the overall
average specific volume and density? Densities:
granite (2750 kg/), sand (1500 kg/), water (997
kg/), Air (1.15 kg/)
Ans.
Problem # 10. A manometer exploration vehicle
submerges to a depth of 1000 ft. If the
atmospheric pressure at the surface is 1 atm, the
water density is and . Determine the pressure on
the vehicle in atm.
Ans.
Problem # 11. If the reading in Fahrenheit scale is
twice the reading in Celsius scale . What will be
the corresponding reading in each scale?
Ans. T(C) = 160, T(F) = 320

Problem # 12. If you dive 5 m down in the ocean.

What is the absolute pressure there?
Ans. P = 151.84 kPa
Problem # 13. What height of mm column of
mercury (Hg) is equivalent to a pressure of 100
psig? The density of mercury is ?
Ans. H = 203 in
Problem # 14. The fuel tank of a car holds 60 L of
gasoline. Assuming that the gasoline has a
specific gravity SG = 0.74. Determine the weight
of the gasoline in the tank.
Ans. W = 436 N
Problem # 15. One hundred grams (100 g) of
water is mixed to 150 g of alcohol (density = 790
kg/m3). Calculate the SG of the total mixture.
Ans. SG = 0.86
 NEXT TOPIC: Systems of Units
Problem Sets (see Course Guide Homework)

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