PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Thermal, Statistical & Complex Systems · The laws of thermodynamics · Statistical mechanics of ideal classical systems
Thermal Physics, Ch The first law: work, heat and internal energy
Problem
A cylinder closed by a light frictionless piston, which can be locked in place or left free to move, holds a mixture of N1=2.0×1023 helium atoms (a monatomic gas) and N2=3.0×1023 nitrogen molecules (a diatomic gas) at 300K. Treat the mixture as a mixture of ideal gases at a common temperature, each component contributing its own internal energy from the equipartition result of Chapter 1, with the room-temperature count of quadratic terms per molecule. The heat capacity of the cylinder itself is negligible.
((a)) Find the heat capacity of the mixture at constant volume, CV=(∂U/∂T)V.
((b)) Find its heat capacity at constant pressure, Cp.
((c)) Find the ratio γ=Cp/CV for the mixture.