High School Physics : Thermodynamics

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Physics

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Heat

An ideal gas is compressed from to  at constant temperature. If the initial pressure was , what is the new pressure?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For this problem, use Boyle's Law: 

Boyle's Law allows us to set up a proportion between the pressure and volume at a constant temperature.

Using the values given, we can solve for the final pressure.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Effects Of Heat On Volume

A balloon in a hot room is submerged in a bucket of cold water. What will happen to this balloon?

Possible Answers:

It will lose air

It will expand

It will pop

It will shrink

It will not change

Correct answer:

It will shrink

Explanation:

The volume of air in the balloon will increase when exposed to hotter temperatures, and decrease when exposed to colder temperatures. If we look at the ideal gas law, we can see that temperature and volume have a direct relationship. As one goes down, so does the other, assuming all other factors remain constant.

We can also look at Charles's law of volumes:

 

The balloon is sealed, so the amount of gas in the balloon will not change, and the elasticity of the balloon means that pressure will also remain constant. As temperature decreases, volume must also decrease. Suppose that the temperature is halved in our question. The result would be half the volume, according to Charles's law.

By this logic, we can conclude that the balloon will shrink when placed in the cold water.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Effects Of Heat On Volume

Why does adding heat cause a gas to expand?

Possible Answers:

Adding heat increases the velocity of the molecules

Adding heat adds more molecules of gas to the system

Adding heat reduces the friction in the molecules when they are moving

Adding heat causes the molecules to bond together, increasing their volume

Adding heat will not cause a gas to expand

Correct answer:

Adding heat increases the velocity of the molecules

Explanation:

Heat is a form of energy. Adding heat to a gaseous system will increase the energy of the molecules, causing them to move faster and collide more frequently. This increased velocity results in the expansion of the gas.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Heat And Work

 of heat is added to a gas in a closed container. If the lid to the container is lifted  with  of force, what is the net energy added to the system?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The formula for the net energy added to a system is;

The change in energy equals the heat energy minus the work done.

We don't know the work, but we can solve for it using the work equation:

We are given both the force and the distance, allowing us to calculate the work.

Now that we know both the work done and the heat added, we can solve for the final energy of the system.

Example Question #2 : Understanding Heat And Work

A certain amount of heat energy is added to a closed system. A few moments later, a scientist observes that the total increase in energy is LESS than that heat energy added to the system. Which could be a valid explanation for this conclusion?

Possible Answers:

Work was done by the system

The system is imperfectly designed

The system is not actually closed

External forces are acting upon the system

The measuring tools were incorrectly calibrated

Correct answer:

Work was done by the system

Explanation:

The most likely explanation is that work is done by the system.

The formula for change in energy shows that the net change in energy is equal to the increase in heat energy minus the work done:

Since , there must have been work done by the system.

Example Question #3 : Understanding Heat And Work

A bathtub and a coffee cup both contain water at . Which of the following is true? 

Possible Answers:

The two contain the same amount of heat, and the bathtub has a higher temperature

The two contain the same amount of heat and have the same temperature 

The bathtub contains more heat, and the two have the same temperature 

The cup contains more heat, and the two have the same temperature 

Correct answer:

The bathtub contains more heat, and the two have the same temperature 

Explanation:

Heat is a form of energy, while temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the molecules present in a system. Since both systems are measure to be at , their average kinetic energies are the same. The cup and the bathtub have the same temperature; however, since the bathtub contains more water, it contains more molecules. Temperature is the measure of heat energy per molecule. A greater number of molecules at the same temperature is indicative of more heat energy than fewer molecules at that temperature. Since the bathtub has more molecules, it has more heat energy even though the two systems have the same temperature.

Example Question #4 : Understanding Heat And Work

In order for heat transfer to occur, which of the following must be present? 

Possible Answers:

Temperature gradient 

All of these must be present for heat transfer to occur

Air 

Interface between two mediums

Correct answer:

Temperature gradient 

Explanation:

A temperature gradient is always needed for heat transfer to occur. The temperature difference is what drives a flow of heat, as heat will always travel from an area of higher temperature to an area of lower temperature. This can occur between two materials, or within a single material. For example, if an iron pot is placed on a stovetop, the entire metal pot will become hot even though only the bottom is in contact with the heat source. This is because the heat transfers through the metal, from the high heat at the bottom to the lower heat at the top.

Example Question #1 : Enthalpy And Entropy

Enthalpy is a measure of __________.

Possible Answers:

how easily something changes temperature

total energy of a thermodynamic system

total work done by a thermodynamic system

total energy lost in heat transfer

the conversion of energy to heat

Correct answer:

total energy of a thermodynamic system

Explanation:

Enthalpy, or , is the total energy of a thermodynamic system. Similar to how mechanical energy can change during mechanical processes, involving changing distances of velocities, enthalpy will increase or decrease with changes made to the thermodynamic state of the system. It is simply a measure for a different form of energy.

Example Question #2 : Enthalpy And Entropy

An ice cube melts into water. While it is melting, what is the temperature of the mixture doing?

Possible Answers:

The ice part of the mixture is colder than the water part.

The temperature of the mixture steadily increases while melting.

The temperature fluctuates depending upon the point at which you measure it.

It remains constant while melting.

The temperature of the mixture steadily decreases while melting.

Correct answer:

It remains constant while melting.

Explanation:

When an object is changing forms (solid to liquid in this case), the temperature remains constant. All of the energy that would normally go towards changing the internal temperature of the object is going into  the latent heat of fusion or enthalpy of fusion instead.

Example Question #3 : Enthalpy And Entropy

Entropy is a measure of __________.

Possible Answers:

change in heat

temperature

specific heat

disorder within the system

energy within the system

Correct answer:

disorder within the system

Explanation:

Entropy is the measurement of disorder within a system, or how far it is from thermal equilibrium. Remember that everything in nature tends towards an equilibrium. The further from that equilibrium something is, the more "disordered" it is when compared to nature's preferred state.

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