TUTORIAL 1

BASIC ENGG. THERMODYNAMICS

Dept. of Mech. Engg.

NITK Surathkal
 PROBLEM 1

A constant volume gas thermometer containing helium gas shows

readings of gas pressure of 1000 and 1366 mm of mercury at
the ice point and steam point respectively. (a) Express the gas
temperature in terms of pressure, (b) At 1075mm of mercury
what is the temperature .
 SOLUTION 1

The temperature of the thermocouple

t= a+(b×p)
At ice point t = 0 °C, p = 1000 mm of mercury
At steam point t=100 °C, p= 1366 mm of mercury
Then a= -273.2, b = 0.2732
At p=1075 mm of mercury
t=20.49 °C
 PROBLEM 2

The e.m.f of a thermocouple with the test junction at t °C on gas

thermometer scale and reference junction at ice point is given by
e = 0.20×t - (5×10-4) × t2
The milli-voltmeter is calibrated at ice point and steam points.
What will this thermometer read in a place where the gas
thermometer reads 50 °C?
 SOLUTION 2
The temperature of the gas thermometer
T = a+(b×e)
The temperature of the thermocouple (t)
e=0.20×t-(5×10-4) ×t2
At ice point t = 0 °C, e = 0
At steam point t = 100 °C, e = 15mV
a = 0, b = 6.667
The thermometer reading when gas thermometer reads
50 °C is 58.33 °C
 PROBLEM 3
A gas is contained in a vertical, frictionless piston cylinder
device. The piston has a mass of 10 kg with a cross-sectional
area of 20 cm2 and is pulled with a force of 100N. If the
atmospheric pressure is 100 kPa, determine the pressure
inside. Also determine the boundary work transfer, if the
volume expands by 0.1 m3.
 SOLUTION 3

Even as the gas expands, the pressure remain unchanged as the force balance
on the piston does not change during the expansion process. The boundary
work is simply the area of the rectangle under the p-V diagram = 98.1*0.1 kJ
= 9.81 kJ.
PROBLEM 4
SOLUTION 4
 PROBLEM 5

The container holding the alcohol is well insulated. Density of ethyl

alcohol is 790 kg/m3
SOLUTION 5
 PROBLEM 6

Let 1.00 kg of liquid water at 100 °C be converted to steam at

100 °C by boiling at standard atmospheric pressure (1 atm) as
shown. The volume of that water changes from an initial value
of 1.00 x10-3 m3 as a liquid to 1.671 m3 as steam.
A) How much work is done by the system during this process?.
B) How much energy is transferred as heat during the process?.
Lv=2256kJ/kg
SOLUTION 6
 PROBLEM 7

Even if a man shows no visible perspiration he still

evaporates about 500 grams of water per day from his
lungs. How many calories of heat are removed by this
evaporation? What is the rate of heat loss in watts due to
this process?
Latent heat of vaporisation is 2260 kJ/kg.
SOLUTION 7
 PROBLEM 8

Consider air as ideal gas.

SOLUTION 8
 PROBLEM 9

Consider oxygen as ideal gas.

SOLUTION 9
PROBLEM 10
SOLUTION10
 PROBLEM.11

A gas is compressed from an initial volume of 0.42 m3 to a final

volume of 0.12 m3. During the quasi-equilibrium process, the
pressure changes with volume according to the relation, P = aV +
b, where a is 1200 kPa/ m3 and b is 600 kPa. Calculate the work
done during this process (a) by plotting the process on a P-V
diagram and finding the area under the process curve and (b) by
performing the necessary integrations.
SOLUTION.11
 PROBLEM.12

A piston–cylinder device, whose piston is resting on a set of

stops, initially contains 3 kg of air at 200 kPa and 27°C. The
mass of the piston is such that a pressure of 400 kPa is
required to move it. Heat is now transferred to the air until
its volume doubles. Determine the work done by the air and
the total heat transferred to the air during this process. Also
show the process on a P-v diagram.
SOLUTION.12
 Problem no. 13
A rigid tank of volume 0.5 m3 is initially evacuated. A
tiny hole develops in the wall and air from the
surroundings at 1 bar, 21 °C, leaks in. Eventually, the
pressure in the tank reaches 1 bar. The process occurs
slowly enough that heat transfer between the tank and
surroundings keeps the temperature of the air inside
the tank constant at 21 °C. Determine the amount of
heat transfer.
 Solution
m1(h1+KE1+PE1)-m2(h2+KE2+PE2)-Q-W = ∆Ecv
m1×h1 – Q = mf×uf - mi×ui
m1= mf-mi, mi = 0
Q= mf(h1-uf)= mf×pf×vf = pf×Vf = 50 kJ