Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Engineering College

(Approved by AICTE, New Delhi & Affiliated to Anna University, Chennai)

(Accredited with ‘A’ Grade by NAAC & Accredited by NBA)
Perambalur – 621 212
Department of Aeronautical & Aerospace Engineering
AE 8301 | Aero Engineering Thermodynamics
Important 2 Marks

Unit – I Basic Concept and First Law

1. What is meant by Thermodynamics system? How do you classify it?

A quantity of the matter or part
of the space which is under
thermodynamic study is called as
system. There are three types of
system:
i. closed system,
ii. open system and
iii. isolated system.

2. Define extensive and intensive property.

The properties of the system that depend on the mass or quantity of the system
are called extensive properties. Some examples of extensive properties are: mass,
volume, enthalpy, internal energy, entropy etc.
These properties do not depend on the quantity of matter of the system. Some
of the examples of intensive properties are: freezing point, boiling point, temperature,
density, specific volume etc.

3. What is meant by a thermal energy reservoir?

A thermal reservoir is a large system from
which a finite quantity of energy can be
extracted as heat or to which a finite quantity of
energy can be added as heat without changing
its temperature.
Example: Bodies with relatively large
thermal masses can be modelled as thermal
energy reservoirs.

4. When is work said to be done by a system?

The first law of thermodynamics says that 𝑄 − 𝑊 = ∆𝑈. If the net workdone is
positive, it is said that the work is done by the system.
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5. What are point and path functions? Give examples.

Point Function:
They depend on the state only, and not on
how a system reaches that state. All properties are
point functions.

Path Function:
Their magnitudes depend on the path
followed during a process as well as the end
states. Work (W), heat (Q) are path functions.

6. When a system is said to be in “Thermodynamic Equilibrium”?

When a system satisfies the condition for all modes of equilibrium, it is said to
be in thermodynamic equilibrium.

7. State the Zeroth law of thermodynamics.

The Zeroth law of thermodynamics states
that if two bodies are in thermal equilibrium with a
third body, they are also in thermal equilibrium with
each other.

8. Compare Heat and Work.

Work (W) Heat (Q)
Interaction Mechanical Thermal
Requires Force and Displacement Temperature difference
Process Macroscopic pushes and pulls Microscopic collisions
A system is in mechanical A system is in thermal
equilibrium when there is no net equilibrium when it is at the
Equilibrium
force or torque on it. same temperature as the
environment.

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9. Derive specific heat capacity at constant pressure and constant volume.

We know that
𝐶𝑝
𝑅 = 𝐶𝑝 − 𝐶𝑣 𝛾=
𝐶𝑣
Specific heat at constant pressure Specific heat at constant volume
𝑅 = 𝐶𝑝 − 𝐶𝑣 𝑅 = 𝐶𝑝 − 𝐶𝑣
𝐶𝑣 𝐶𝑝
𝑅 = 𝐶𝑝 (1 − ) 𝑅 = 𝐶𝑣 ( − 1)
𝐶𝑝 𝐶𝑣
1 𝑅 = 𝐶𝑣 (𝛾 − 1)
𝑅 = 𝐶𝑝 (1 − )
𝛾 𝑅
𝐶𝑣 =
𝛾−1 𝛾−1
𝑅 = 𝐶𝑝 ( )
𝛾
𝛾𝑅
𝐶𝑝 =
𝛾−1

10. What are the limitations of the first law of thermodynamics?

The limitations of first law:
 It does not specify the direction of the process. All spontaneous processes
processed in one direction only.
 It does not deny the feasibility of a process reversing itself.
 And it does not provide answers to the following questions.
▪ to what extent does the process / reaction proceed?
▪ is a particular process / reaction feasible?
▪ is complete conversion of internal energy into work possible?

11. Define indicated power and brake power of an engine.

Indicated Power (𝑖𝑝) is defined as the power developed by combustion of fuel
in the engine cylinder. It is always more than brake power.
(𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑝)𝐿𝐴𝑛𝐾 𝑝𝑉𝑁𝐾
𝑖𝑝 = =
60 × 1000 60
The power developed by an engine and measured at the output shaft is called
the brake power (𝑏𝑝).
(𝑏𝑚𝑒𝑝)𝐿𝐴𝑛𝐾 2𝜋𝑁𝑇
𝑏𝑝 = =
60 × 1000 60

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12. Indicate the practical application of steady flow energy equation.

 Diffuser, discharges fluid with higher enthalpy. The velocity of the fluid is
reduced.
 Compressors, discharge the fluid with higher enthalpy, i.e, with higher
pressure and temperature.
 Turbine, converts enthalpy into useful work.
 Nozzle, primarily used to increase the flow velocity.
 A heat exchanger is a system used to transfer heat between two or more fluids.

Unit – II Second Law and Entropy

13. What is meant by perpetual motion of machine second kind?

A device that violates the second
law of thermodynamics is called a
perpetual motion machine of the second
kind (PMM2).

14. State the Kelvin – Planck statement of second law of Thermodynamics.

It is impossible for any device that operates on a cycle to exchange heat with
just a single reservoir and produce a net amount of work.
Kelvin – Planck statement

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15. State the Clausius statement of second law of Thermodynamics.

It is impossible to construct a device that operates on a cycle and produces no
effect other than the transfer of heat from a low temperature body to a high temperature
body.
Clausius statement

16. State the Clausius’ theorem.

The cyclic integral of 𝑑𝑄/𝑇 for e reversible cycle is equal to zero. This is
known as Clausius’ theorem.
𝑑𝑄
∮ =0
𝑅 𝑇

17. State the Clausius Inequality theorem and what its inference is?
The Clausius theorem states that for a system exchanging heat with external
reservoirs is undergoing a cyclic process.
𝑑𝑄
∮ ≤0
𝑇
For irreversible processes,
𝑑𝑄𝑖𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑣
∮ <0
𝑇
For reversible processes,
𝑑𝑄𝑟𝑒𝑣
∮ =0
𝑇
Thus, the Clausius Inequality is a consequence of applying the second law of
thermodynamics at each infinitesimal stage of heat transfer.

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18. Define the Coefficient of Performance for a Refrigerator.

The efficiency of a refrigerator is
expressed in terms of the coefficient of
performance (COP), denoted by COPRef.
It is the ratio between heat (QL) removed
from the refrigerated space to the work
(Wnet,in) requires to accomplish it.

19. Write the expression for COP of a heat pump and a refrigerator.
Heat Pump Refrigerator
𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡
𝐶𝑂𝑃𝐻𝑃 = 𝐶𝑂𝑃𝑅𝑒𝑓 =
𝑅𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑅𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡

𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝐶𝑜𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡

𝐶𝑂𝑃𝐻𝑃 = 𝐶𝑂𝑃𝑅𝑒𝑓 =
𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑊𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝐼𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡

𝑄𝐻 𝑄𝐿
𝐶𝑂𝑃𝐻𝑃 = 𝐶𝑂𝑃𝑅𝑒𝑓 =
𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑡,𝑖𝑛 𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑡,𝑖𝑛

20. Prove that COPHP = COPRef + 1.

𝑄𝐻 𝑄𝐻
𝐶𝑂𝑃𝐻𝑃 = =
𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑡,𝑖𝑛 𝑄𝐻 − 𝑄𝐿
𝑄𝐻 𝑄𝐻 − (𝑄𝐻 − 𝑄𝐿 )
𝐶𝑂𝑃𝐻𝑃 − 1 = −1 =
𝑄𝐻 − 𝑄𝐿 𝑄𝐻 − 𝑄𝐿
𝑄𝐻 − 𝑄𝐻 + 𝑄𝐿
𝐶𝑂𝑃𝐻𝑃 − 1 =
𝑄𝐻 − 𝑄𝐿
𝑄𝐿
𝐶𝑂𝑃𝐻𝑃 − 1 = = 𝐶𝑂𝑃𝑅𝑒𝑓
𝑄𝐻 − 𝑄𝐿
𝐶𝑂𝑃𝐻𝑃 = 𝐶𝑂𝑃𝑅𝑒𝑓 + 1

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21. What are the difference between a Heat pump and Refrigerator?
Heat pump is to maintain a heated space at a high temperature.
Refrigerator is to maintain a refrigerated space at a low temperature.
Heat Pump Refrigerator

22. Define the term entropy.

Classical Thermodynamics
Entropy is a property designated S
𝛿𝑄
and is defined as 𝑑𝑆 = ( 𝑇 )
Statistical Thermodynamics
Entropy can be viewed as a measure
of molecular disorder, or molecular
.
𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑣 randomness.

23. What is principle of entropy?

Consider a cycle that is made up of two processes: process 1-2, which is arbitrary
(reversible or irreversible), and process 2-1, which is internally reversible, as shown in
Figure. From the Clausius inequality,
𝛿𝑄
∮ ≤0
𝑇
or
2 1
𝛿𝑄 𝛿𝑄
∫ +∫ ( ) ≤0
1 𝑇 2 𝑇 𝑖𝑛𝑡. 𝑟𝑒𝑣.

The second integral in the previous relation is recognized as the entropy change
𝑆1 − 𝑆2. Therefore,
2
𝛿𝑄
∫ + (𝑆1 − 𝑆2 ) ≤ 0
1 𝑇

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which can be rearranged as

2
𝛿𝑄
∫ ≤ (𝑆2 − 𝑆1 )
1 𝑇
2
𝛿𝑄
(𝑆2 − 𝑆1 ) ≥ ∫
1 𝑇
It can also be expressed in differential form as
2
𝛿𝑄
𝑑𝑆 ≥ ∫
1 𝑇

24. What are the causes of entropy increase?

 When a solid becomes a liquid, its entropy increases.
 When a liquid becomes a gas, its entropy increases.
 As a gas expands in a system, entropy increases.
 Any chemical reaction that increases the number of gas molecules also increases
entropy.

25. What are the important characteristics of entropy?

 It increases when the heat is supplied irrespective of the fact whether
temperature changes or not.
 Whether temperature changes or not the entropy decreases when heat is
rejected.
 In all the adiabatic processes, the entropy remains constant.

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