Assessment

Statement of inquiry: Scientific innovation can transform our human existence.

Introduction
Steam engines use the physics of how gasses behave at different temperatures and pressures
to convert thermal energy into mechanical energy. Although they are not used for driving
industrial machines or for transport any more, similar technology is used in many power stations
where steam power is used to drive a generator.
This assessment is based on the physics of steam engines and the efficiency of steam turbines.

The pressure in a piston

A steam engine operates using steam in a piston. The steam is at a high temperature and
exerts a high pressure on the walls of the piston.

1. Explain how the motion of the water molecules causes higher temperatures to
exert higher pressures. [4]

The water molecules are always in Brownian motion, which means random motion of vibration
all across in different directions. The motion in higher temperatures increases even more and
gains more kinetic energy, since the molecules also interact and bounce off the walls of the
container, steam at high temperature exerts a high pressure on the walls due to increased kinetic
energy and rate of motion.

2. When the piston has a volume of 2 × 10 m , the gas in the piston is at a pressure
−4 3

of 150kPa. The area of the end of the piston is 0.00133m . Calculate the force that
2

the gas exerts on the end of the piston. [2]

Pressure = force/area
150000 = force/0.00133
Force = 199.5 N

3. The pressure of the air outside the piston is 100kPa and this pushes inwards on
the end of the piston. Calculate the net force pushing out on the piston. [3]

Force in the piston = 199.5 N

Force outside piston

100000 = force/0.00133
Force = 133 N

199.5 – 133
= 66.5 N

4. If the mass of gas in the piston remains the same, what is the pressure of the gas
if the volume is reduced to 1.5 × 10 m ? [3]
−4 3

P1V1 = P2V2
150000 * 2*10^-4 = P2 * 1.5*10^-4
30 = P2 * 1.5*10^-4
P2 = 200000 Pa

5. The piston operates at a temperature of 300°C. Express this temperature in kelvin.

[1]

300 + 237
= 537 K

6. Which method of heat transfer (conduction, convection or radiation) is most likely to

be responsible for:
a) heat owing from the gas inside of the piston to the outside of the piston? [1]
- Convection
b) heat energy leaving the outside of the piston? [1]
- radiation

Investigating how gas pressure depends on temperature

In an experiment to determine how the pressure of a gas depends on the temperature, a group
of students use the apparatus shown in the diagram to the right.

6. Identify the independent and dependent variables for this experiment. [2]

Independent = the temperature of the water bath

Dependent = the pressure of the gas inside the flask containing air

7. The flask containing the air is made of glass, so it does not change shape when
the pressure inside is greater or smaller than the pressure outside the flask.
Explain why it is important that the flask does not change shape. [2]

If the flask changes shape due to the pressure, then the volume of the flask will change, and since
volume and pressure is indirectly proportional, a change in volume will bring a change in
pressure, and our aim is to see how pressure is affected by temperature, not volume. Hence,
volume must remain a constant variable.
 8. The students know that the flask starts with air at room temperature, which is
about 20°C, and room pressure, which is about 100kPa. The maximum
temperature of the water is 100°C. They are concerned that heating water from
20°C to 100°C is an increase of five times. They know that pressure is proportional
to temperature and fear that 500kPa would be enough to shatter the glass. Explain
why they do not need to be concerned and calculate the maximum pressure that
could be attained in the flask. [6]

According to the Charles law

P1/t1 = p2/t2
So,
100000/293 = p2/373
341.29 = p2/373
P2 = 127301.17 Pa is the maximum pressure that could be attained.
Since the probability of the glass shattering is when the pressure would be 500000 Pa, the
maxiumum pressure it would reach is 127301.17 Pa, hence there is no need to worry.

9. As an improvement to the experiment, a student suggests using a flask made of

copper rather than glass. What properties of copper make it suitable for this
experiment and how would this improve the experiment? [3]

Copper is a very good conductor so the temperature will be more effectively worked upon from
this change and the risk of explosion of glass due to high pressure would be eliminated.

11. Identify one safety consideration when carrying out this experiment. [2]

One safety precaution that must be taken is ensuring that fire extinguisher be available and ready
if needed as working with a heat source, there is always a chance of fire mishappenings, that may
lead to injuries or serious burns.

The efficiency of a steam engine

The efficiency of a steam engine depends on the temperature to which the steam is heated. A
steam engine is tested to determine its efficiency at different steam temperatures and the
results are shown below.
12. Plot a graph of the data in the table (provided below). [4]

13. Add a line of best fit to your graph. [1]

14. At low temperatures, the water did not boil and create enough steam pressure to
drive the steam engine (the water is under pressure and so boils at a higher temperature
than 100°C). Estimate the temperature at which the water boils sufficiently to drive the
engine. [2]

Since a temperature of 244 C gives 11.2% efficiency

11.2  244
1  21

It is necessary to have at least 40% efficiencty to drive the engine

40  871.43 C is the temperature at which the water would sufficiently boil enough

15. The engine is unlikely to be able to pull a carriage unless it reaches 19% efficiency.
Use your graph to estimate the temperature of the steam required to achieve this. [2]
341 – 342 C
16. In theory, higher efficiencies could be achieved by using much higher temperatures.
In reality, heat loss from the boiler and cost are two factors which mean that very high
temperatures are not used in steam engines.
a) Explain why high temperatures would result in increased heat loss. [3]
the higher the temperatures, the higher the heat production and higher chances of there being
heat loss.

b) Explain why high temperatures would be more expensive to maintain. [3]

since higher temperatures would cause excessive heat loss, more energy would be required to
provide enough heat for the steam engine to work (heat loss would slow it down), more energy
consumption would make it cost ineffective.

Using steam power in coal-red power stations

Most of the world’s electricity is produced with a steam turbine. Steam turbines are similar to
steam engines in that they use changes in the pressure and temperature of steam to generate
mechanical work. Use the following facts to answer the questions that follow:
● A typical coal-red steam turbine operates at about 33% efficiency.
● About 40% of the world’s power is generated by burning coal in order to drive steam turbines.
● The total world power generation is about 1.5 × 10 J every second.
13

● 1 tonne of coal typically costs $100.

● 1 tonne of coal produces about 3 × 10 J of thermal energy.
10

17. How much useful energy is generated by 1 tonne of coal? [2]

3*1010 J of thermal energy is generated by 1 tonne of coal

18. How much energy in the world is generated using coal-redsteam turbines? [2]
Energy in world = 1.5*1013 J
Efficiency = 33%

33/100 * 1.5*1013 = 4.95 * 1012

= 1.005 * 1013 J Energy

19. Estimate the mass of coal that is burned every second in order to generate energy. [2]
Energy in one second = 1.5*1013 J
1 tonne = 3*1010

0.5 tonnes
= 500 kg of coal is burned every second

20. How much energy is wasted by steam turbines? [3]

Energy in world = 1.5*1013 J
Efficiency = 33%

Useful energy = 1.005 * 1013

Waste energy
1.5*1013 – 1.005 * 1013
4.95 * 1012 J
21. Increasing the efficiency of a turbine would reduce the cost of electricity. Describe
two other advantages of increasing the efficiency of steam turbines in coal-red power
stations. [6]

Increasing efficiency would reduce the waste energy and more than 40% of the worlds power
will be able to be generated due to more efficiency.