4.

A closed gas cylinder assembly undergoes a process from state 1 to state

2. Assuming the process to be a polytropic process, is the process reversible?
Why?
- When a gas undergoes a reversible process in which there is heat
transfer, the process frequently takes place in such a manner that a plot of
the log P (pressure) vs log V (volume) is a straight line. This type of process
is called a polytropic process and is defined as pVn = constant.
5. How is enthalpy defined? Explain what each term in the equation means
and state its units in S.I system.
- Enthalpy is defined as a state function that depends only on the
prevailing equilibrium state identified by the variables internal energy,
pressure, and volume. Enthalpy is defined in the following equation:
H = U + pV
where H = the enthalpy of the system, in Joules or Nm
U = the internal energy of the system, in Joules or Nm
p = the pressure in the system, in Pascals or N/m2
V = the volume of the system, in m3
6. How are specific heats at constant pressure (c p) and constant volume (cv)
defined in terms of enthalpy and internal energy?
- Specific heat at constant volume is the change of specific internal
energy with respect to temperature when the volume is held constant
(Isometric process) and is defined as:
C v =(

U
)
T v

- Specific heat at constant pressure is the change of specific enthalpy

with respect to temperature when the pressure is held constant
(Isobaric process) and is defined as:
C p =(

H
)
T p

7. What is an incompressible substance in Thermodynamics? Give some

examples of incompressible substances. How are C p and Cv related for
incompressible substances?
- An incompressible substance is a substance whose specific volume
(or density) is constant. Solids and liquids are incompressible substances.
The specific heats at constant pressure and constant volume for
incompressible substances will reduce into one specific heat constant which
is a function of temperature only:
Cp= Cv= C
8. What are the Cp and Cv values for Aluminum, Copper, Iron and Lead?
The following table represents the values for C p and Cv of Alumimum,
Copper, Iron and Lead
Material
Aluminu
m
Copper
Iron
Lead

Cp (kJ/kg Cp
K)
K)
0.91
0.39
0.45
0.13

(kJ/kg

---------------------

9. What specifications should an ideal gas follow? How are C p and Cv related
for ideal gas?
- An ideal gas is a theoretical gas composed of a set of randomlymoving, non-interacting point particles. The ideal gas concept is useful
because it obeys the ideal gas law, a simplified equation of state, and is
amenable to analysis under statistical mechanics. Using the definition of
enthalpy (h = u + Pv) and writing the differential of enthalpy, the
relationship between the specific heats for ideal gases is
h=u+ Pv

dh=du+d ( RT )

C p dT =C v dT + RdT

C p =C v + R

10. What are the CP and CV values for Air, CO2 and O2 at 350K, 600K and
900K? State the units of C P and CV. What is the value of the ratio of specific
heats for Air, CO2 and O2 at 350K, 600K and 900K? Assume Air, CO 2 and O2 to
be ideal gases.

- The following tables are the C p, CV and k values for Air, CO 2 and O2 at
different temperatures:
Air
Temperature
K
350
600
900

Cv
kJ/kg
K

k
Cp/Cv

1.051
1.121

0.725
0.764
0.834

1.4
1.376
1.344

Cp
kJ/kg K
0.895
1.075
1.204

Cv
kJ/kg
K
0.706
0.886
1.015

k
Cp/Cv

Cv
kJ/kg
K
0.668
2
0.743
2
0.814
2

k
Cp/Cv

Cp
kJ/kg K

1.008

CO2
Temperature
K
350
600
900

1.268
1.213
1.186

O2
Temperature
K

Cp
kJ/kg K

350

0.928

600

1.003

900

1.074

1.389
1.350
1.319

11. Is Internal Energy a point or a path function? Is work done a point or path
function?
Internal Energy is a state function, and the work done is a path
function.

12. What assumptions are we making when we state E = U?

We assume that the change in the overall energy, E, is equal to the

change in the internal energy, U occurs when the values for the change in
the kinetic energy KE and the change in the potential energy PE are
negligible or equal to 0.