An aerosol can originally contains pressurized ideal gas at 3.0 atm and 300 K in a…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Further mechanics and thermal physics · Further mechanics and thermal physics
Problem
An aerosol can originally contains pressurized ideal gas at 3.0 atm and 300 K in a rigid metal container. When the nozzle is held open briefly, some gas escapes, and the can rapidly re-equilibrates to a new internal pressure of 2.0 atm. During this short interval, assume that heat exchange with the surroundings is negligible compared with the energy carried away by the escaping gas.
(1) Qualitatively compare the final temperature of the gas remaining in the can with its initial temperature. State whether the temperature rises, falls, or stays the same, and justify your answer using proportional reasoning rather than explicit calculations.
(2) Explain in words why the outside surface of the can feels cold to the touch immediately after spraying, relating your explanation to the changes in the internal state variables of the gas.
(3) Determine whether the mass of gas remaining in the can is greater than, less than, or exactly two-thirds of its original mass. Support your conclusion with a qualitative argument based on the relevant relationships among pressure, temperature, and amount of gas.