ME 232 Thermodynamics I

Spring 2015
Homework Set 2
Due: January 29 at the START of class
1. (5 points) A quarterback throws a perfect spiral at about 22 m/s.
a. If the ball has a mass of .48 kg, what is its kinetic energy?
b. What is its specific kinetic energy?
c. What is the footballs potential energy when it reaches the top of its arc at 5 m?
2. (10 points) There is a rock on the edge of a 93 m high cliff on the moon (no air resistance)
with a mass of 32 kg. It has an internal energy of 52 kJ.
a. Determine the total mechanical energy of the rock (remember you will need the
gravitational acceleration of the moon).
b. Determine the total energy of the rock (E) and the specific total energy of the rock
(e).
c. If the rock falls off the cliff, determine the velocity just before the rock hits the
ground, assuming the final and initial energies must be the same.
3. (15 points) The table below contains measured pressure versus volume data from an
expansion process. Using the data from the table, please do the following:
a. Plot these points on a p-V diagram (on a computer and print out your plot to turn in)
b. Using graphical or numerical integration of the data, evaluate the work done by the
gases.
c. Determine a value of n such that the data fit an equation of the form pVn = C and plot
that line on the same plot as in part a. (hint: use excel or another program to fit a
power line to the data).
d. Analytically evaluate the work (perform the integration) using the equation from part c
e. Compare the results from parts b and d and explain why they are both estimates
Pressure (kPa) Volume (m3)
300
0.163
280
0.166
260
0.175
240
0.183
220
0.194
200
0.202

4. (10 points) Carbon dioxide (CO2) contained within a piston cylinder undergoes three
processes in series:
Process 1 2: Expansion from p1 = 15 bar, V1 = 0.25 m3, to V2 = 2.9 m3 during
which the pressure-volume relationship is pV = constant
Process 2 3: Constant volume heating from state 2 to state 3 where p3 = 15 bar
Process 31: Constant pressure compression to the initial state.
Sketch (dont have to use a computer, but make sure to think about the shape of each
process) the process in series on a pV diagram (pressure on vertical axis) and evaluate the
work for each process.
5. (10 points) Air is contained inside a vertical piston-cylinder assembly by a piston of mass 32
kg and face area of 0.03 m2. The mass of air inside the cylinder is 10 grams, and the air
initially occupies a volume of 10 liters. The atmosphere exerts a pressure
of 101.3 kPa on the top of the piston. The volume of the air slowly
decreases to 0.004 m3, while maintaining constant pressure, as the specific
internal energy of the air decreases by 275 kJ/kg. Neglecting friction
between the piston and the cylinder wall, determine the heat transfer to the
air in kJ.
Air