Chapter 19:The Kinetic Theory of Gases

(Fundamental of Physics, 10th edition)

• Lecture 3: Avogadro number, Ideal gas concept, Ideal gas equation, work done by an ideal gas
and related problems.
• 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 Lectures 3, 4 and 5 (30 minutes). Adiabetic expantion of an ideal gas
and related problems. Topic distribution and submission date announcement for the
assignment.
 Lecture 5

Molar Specific Heat of an Ideal Gas

• We recall the definition of molar specific heat:

• Thus, we can calculate the amount of heat, Q an ideal gas needs to

raise its temperature by ΔT :

• We consider two types of molar specific heat:

1. Molar specific heat at constant volume (for constant volume process)
2. Molar specific heat at constant pressure (for constant pressure process)
1. Molar Specific Heat at Constant Volume,
Added amount of heat,
Work done, W= 0 [as ΔV=0]
Applying first law of thermodynamics, ,
we get

Thus,

• Value of for Monatomic Ideal Gas:

(f=3)
• Value of for Diatomic Ideal Gas:
(f=5)
• Value of for Polyatomic Ideal Gas:
(f=6)
2. Molar Specific Heat at Constant Pressure,
Added amount of heat,
Work done, (pV=nRT)
Applying first law of thermodynamics, ,
we get

[
[Divided by ]

 Thus, Cp is greater than the molar specific heat at constant volume CV,
because energy must now be supplied not only to raise the
temperature of the gas but also for the gas to do work as shown in Fig.
Molar Specific Heats of Various Molecules
47. The temperature of 2.00 mol of an ideal monatomic gas is raised 15.0 K at
constant volume. What are (a) the work W done by the gas, (b) the energy
transferred as heat Q, (c) the change ΔEint in the internal energy of the gas, and
(d) the change ΔK in the average kinetic energy per atom?

Solution: Here, ΔT= 15 K k=

n = 2.00 mol
ΔV = V - V = 0

(a) W = pΔV = p(0) = 0

(b) Q = nCVΔT = n ( ΔT = 2.00 (15) = 373.95 J [CV = (

[
(c) ΔEint = Q – W = 373.95 – 0 = 373.95 J

(d) ΔK = (ΔT = (15 = 31.05 J

48. When 20.9 J was added as heat to a particular ideal gas, the volume of the gas
changed from 50.0 cm3 to 100 cm3 while the pressure remained at 1.00 atm. (a) By
how much did the internal energy of the gas change? If the quantity of gas present
was 2.00x10-3 mol, find (b) Cp and (c) CV.

Solution:
Here, Q = 20.9 J
ΔV = (100 – 50) cm3 = 50 cm3 =50(10-2 m)3 = 50x10-6 m3

p = 1.00 atm = 1x105 Pa

n = 2.00x10-3 mol
(a) ΔEint = Q – W = Q – p ΔV = 20.9 – 1x105(50x10-6) = 20.9 – 5.0 = 15.9 J
(b) Q = nCpΔT [p = constant]
Cp =
Ideal gas law, pV = nRT
(pV) = (nRT)
p = nR
p = nR
pΔV = nR ΔT
= n ΔT

Cp =

Cp = = = = 34.74 J/mol-K

(c) Cp – CV = R
CV = Cp – R = 34.74 – 8.31 = 26.43 J/mol-K
Problems for Practice