Chapter 19:The Kinetic Theory of Gases

(Fundamental of Physics, 10th edition)

 4 lectures (two weeks, 8 hours) for this chapter:

• Lecture 3: Avogadro number, ideal gas concept, work done by an ideal gas and related
problems. Quiz 1 (on chapter 18) for 30 minutes.
• Lecture 4: Pressure, temperature and rms speed, translational kinetic energy and
related problems, degrees of freedom, Internal energy of monoatomic gas.
• Lecture 5: Molar specific heat at constant volume for an ideal gas, molar specific heat
at constant pressure for an ideal gas, relation between Cp and CV , related problems.
• Lecture 6: Quiz 2 (on Lecture 1, 2 and 3). Adiabatic expansion of an ideal
gas and related problems. Topic distribution and submission date
announcement for the assignment.
 Lecture 6
19-9 Adiabatic expansion of an ideal gas: p= a constant
Suppose that you remove some shots from the
piston, allowing the ideal gas to push the piston
and the remaining shots upward and thus to
increase the volume by a differential amount
dV. Since the volume change is tiny, we may
assume that the pressure p of the gas on the
piston is constant during the change. The work
dW done by the gas during the volume increase
is equal to W = p dV. adiabatic process, Q = 0

1st law of thermodynamics, ΔEint = Q – W

nCV ΔT = 0 – p dV
nΔT = –

[ΔEint = Q – W = nCV ΔT – pΔV = nCV ΔT– p(V – V) = nCV ΔT– p(0) = nCV ΔT]
Ideal gas equation, pV = nRT

(pV) = (nRT)
[ (uv) = ]
p + V = nR

= nR

= n dT

=– [ n dT = – ]

= – () p dV [Cp – CV = R]
= – () p dV = – ( 1) p dV = – ( 1) p dV = – 𝛾 p dV + p dV

= – 𝛾 p dV

=–𝛾 [

= – 𝛾 = –𝛾

ln p + C1= - 𝛾 ln V + C2
ln p + 𝛾 ln V = C
ln p + ln = C
ln (p = C
=
p = a constant [adiabatic expansion or contraction] pi = pf
 19-9 T = constant for an adiabatic process:

For an adiabatic process, p = constant

To write an equation for an adiabatic process in terms of T and V, we use the ideal
gas equation to eliminate p
Ideal gas equation, pV = nRT
p=

() = constant

T(= [n and R are constants]

T = constant
When the gas goes from an initial state i to a final state f: Ti = Tf
, and :
Types of Gas

Monatomic

Diatomic

Polyatomic 3 4
19-9 W

Adiabatic process of
an ideal gas:
𝑎
(- ) 𝑝= 𝛾
𝑉

=a

𝑃 𝑖 𝑉 𝑖− 𝑃 𝑓 𝑉 𝑓
W=
𝛾 −1
55. A certain gas occupies a volume of 4.3 L at a pressure of 1.2 atm and a
temperature of 310 K. It is compressed adiabatically to a volume of 0.76 L.
Determine (a) the final pressure and (b) the final temperature, assuming the gas
to be an ideal gas for which γ = 1.4.
Solution: (b) T = constant
Here, Vi = 4.3 L
Ti = Tf
pi = 1.2 atm = 1.2x10 Pa
5

Ti = 310 K Tf = =
Vf = 0.76 L = = 310(2.00) = 620 K
= 1.4
(a) p = constant
pi = pf
=pi( ) = = =
 Home work
54. We know that for an adiabatic process pVγ = a constant. Evaluate “a constant” for an
adiabatic process involving exactly 2.0 mol of an ideal gas passing through the state having
exactly p = 1.0 atm and T = 300 K. Assume a diatomic gas whose molecules rotate but do not
oscillate.
Solution:
Diatomic gas whose molecules rotate
Here, n = 2 mol but do not oscillate, f = 3+2 = 5
T = 300 K CV = ( (
P = 1.0 atm = 1.0x105 Pa
Cp – CV = R
Cp = CV + R = ( + R = (
p = constant
𝑐𝑃 = = = 1.4
𝛾=
𝑐𝑣
 p = constant

a=p

a = p() [Ideal gas law, pV = nRT]

= 1.0x105{}1.4 [V = ]

= 1.0x105{0.04986}1.4
a =1.5x103 Nm2.2
Unit of a = p = ()() = =