Mechanical Engineering II (MCR14101)

Tutorial sheet for Introduction to Thermodynamics

1. Solution: (a) V = 450 L = 450x0.001 m 3 = 0.45 m3, mass m = 1 kg, molecular weight of Oxygen
M = 32.
Density ρ = m/V = 2.22 kg/m3.
Specific volume v = 1/ ρ = V/m = 0.45 m3/kg.
Molar specific volume v = vM = 0.45x32 m3/kg mol = 14.4 m3/kg mol.

(b) Yes. The density does not change if the mass considered changes. The specific volume (or any
specific property) is intensive by definition.

2. Solution: (a) The Kelvin and Rankine scales are precisely defined as,

K = 0C+273.15 and R = 0F+459.67.

Freezing point of water = 00C = 273 K = 320F = 492 R.

Boiling point of water = 1000C = 373 K = 2120F = 672 R.

If K and R denote the same temperature in Kelvin and Rankine scales, we get by linear
interpolation,

(K-273)/(373-273) = (R-492)/(672-492) →R~1.8K.

(b) From the definition of Rankine scale, R = 0F+459.67.

→ absolute temperature in Rankine scale = (-12+ 459.67) R = 447.67 R.

3. Solution: Mass of the piston m = 5 kg, diameter of the piston D = 100mm = 0.1 m, intermediate
pressure (middle figure) P = 400 kPa, intermediate volume (middle figure) V = 0.4 L = 0.0004 m3,
elongation of spring from second to the third configuration x = 2 cm = 0.02 m. The atmospheric
pressure is denoted by P0.

Let k is the spring stiffness, x is its displacement and A denotes the area of cross-section of the
piston, P1 = initial pressure within cylinder, P = intermediate pressure within cylinder and P2 = final
pressure within cylinder. Similarly we define V1, V and V2. Note that V2= V+Ax.

A = πD2/4 = π(0.1)2/4 m2 = 0.00785 m2.

Consider configration 1, P1A = P0A+mg → P1 = P0+mg/A (1)

P1 = 100+[5x9.81/ (0.00785x1000)] kPa = 106.25 kPa.

Configration 2, PA = P0A+mg+kx' = P0A+mg+kV/A → P = P0+mg/A+KV/A2 = P1+KV/ A2 (2)

Configuration 3, P2A = P0A+mg+kV2/A = P0A+mg+kV2/A-kV/A+kV/A

→P2A = (P0A+mg+kV/A)+K(V2-V)/A →P2 = P0+mg/A+kV/A2+k(V2-V) A2

Substitute for P and K/ A2 from Equation (2) and simplify to get

→P2 = P+(P-P1) (V2-V)/V (3)

Upon simplification, P2 = P+(P-P1) Ax/V = 400+(400-106.25) (0.00785 x0.02)/0.0004 kPa

→P2 = 515.29 kPa.

4. Solution: Given V = 5 m3, P = 15 MPa = 15x103 kPa, T = 270C = (27+273) K = 300 K and M =
28.

Characteristic gas constant of the gas R = R/M where R = universal gas constant = 8.3145 kJ/k mol
K.

→R = 8.3145/28 kJ/kg K = 0.297 kJ/kg K. Using the eqation of state PV = mRT, we get

15x103 x 5 = m x 0.297 x 300 → m = 841.75 kg.

Density of the gas ρ = m/V = 8.41/5 kg/m3 = 168.35 kg/m3.

Specific volume of the gas v = 1/ ρ = V/m = 0.0059 m3/kg.

Molar specific volume of the gas v = vM = 0.0059x28 m3/kg mol = 0.1652 m3/kg mol.

5. Solution: The molecular weight of ammonia is M = 17.

Therefore, R = R/M = 8.3145/17 kJ/kg K = 0.4891 kJ/kg K.

Using the equation of state for real gases or extended gas equation, Pv = ZRT where Z is the
compresiblity factor. For ideal gases, Z = 1.

At P = 100 kPa, we get, P1v1 = Z1RT1 → Z1 = P1v1 /RT1 = (100x1.1381)/(0.4891x 239.4) = 0.972.
Here, T1 = (-33.6+273) K = 239.4 K.

At P = 2000 kPa, we get, P2v2 = Z2 RT2 → Z2 = P2v2 /RT2 = (2000x0.06444)/(0.4891x 322.37) =

0.817. Here, T2 = (49.37+273) K = 322.37 K.

Z is closer to 1 at P = 100 kPa and hence, closer to the ideal gas behaviour than at P = 2000 kPa.

6. Solution: Given P1 = 100 kPa, V1 = 1 m3, T1 = 300 K (properties for propane in the larger tank)
and P2 = 250 kPa, V2 = 0.5 m3, T2 = 400 K (properties for propane in the smaller tank).

Final equilibrium temperature T = 345 K.

Using euation of state for propane in the bigger tank we get, P1V1 = m1RT1 → m1 = P1V1 /RT1 =
(100x1)/(0.1886x 300) = 1.7674 kg.

Similarly, for propane in the bigger tank we get, P2V2 = m2RT2 → m2 = P2V2 /RT2 = (250x0.5)/
(0.1886x 400) = 1.6569 kg.

Final mass m = m1 + m2 = (1.7674+ 1.6569) kg = 3.4243 kg and final volume V = V1 + V2 = (1+0.5)

m3 = 1.5 m3.

Applying the equation of state, PV = mRT → P = mRT/V= (3.4243x0.1886x 345)/1.5 kPa = 148.54
kPa.

7. Solution: Given minimum initial diameter of balloon D1 = 1 m, final diameter D2 = 4 m, Initial

pressure = ambient pressure P0 = 100 kPa, final pressure P2 = 400 kPa, T = 20°C. From P =
P0+C(1-D1/D) (D1/D) we get, P2 = P0+C(1-D1/D2) (D1/D2) →400 = 100+C(1-1/4)(1/4) → C =
1600. Therefore, the pressure may be expressed as P = P0+1600(1-D1/D) (D1/D). For maximum
pressure, dP/dD = 0 →(D1/D2)(D1/D)+(1-D1/D) (-D1/D2) = 0 →D = 2D1 for maximum pressure.
Thus, D = 2x1 m = 2 m.
Maximum pressure inside the balloon P = P0+1600(1-1/2) (1/2) kPa = (100+400) kPa = 500 kPa.

At this instant volume of the balloon V = πD3/6 = 8π/6 m3 = 4.1888 m3. At this instant, mass of
helium in the balloon is computed from equation of state as PV = mRT → m = PV /RT =
(500x4.1888)/(2.0771x 293) kg = 3.44 kg.

Initial mass of helium in the tank is found as mt = PtVt/RT = (2000x12)/(2.0771x293) kg = 39.44 kg.

Therefore, mass of helium in the tank = ( mt - m) kg = (39.44-3.44) kg = 36 kg. From equation of

state, Pt = (mt -m)RT/Vt = (36x2.0771x293)/12 kPa = 1825.77 kPa.

8. Solution: Given ambient pressure P0 = 1 bar = 100 kPa, Initial pressure P of CO2 = 200 kPa,
initial temperature T0 of CO2 = 290 K = final temperature Tf of CO2, density ρ of piston material =
8000 kg/m3. Initial volume V of CO2 = (π/4)(0.1)2x0.1 m3. Let, m = mass of piston.

Once the pin is broken, the piston will move upwards if PA > P0A+mg or if P > P0+mg/A. Now, m =
(π/4)(0.1)2x0.1x8000 kg = 6.28 kg and P0+mg/A = 100+6.28x9.81/[1000x(π/4)(0.1)2] kPa = 107.84
kPa< P = 200 kPa. Therefore, the piston will travel upwards. If the piston hits the stops then final
volume of CO2 is V2 = (π/4)(0.1)2x0.15 m3. From the combination of Boyle's and Charles laws we
have PV /T0= P1V1 /Tf. For constant temperature, PV = P1V1 or 200x (π/4)(0.1)2x0.1 = P1 x(π/4)
(0.1)2x0.15 → P1 = 133.33 kPa> 107.84 kPa. Hence, the piston will hit the stops.