Chapter 3: Ideal Gas

An ideal gas is ideal only in the sense that it conforms to the simple perfect gas laws.
Boyles Law
If the temperature of a given quantity of gas is held constant, the volume of the gas varies inversely
with the absolute pressure during a change of state.
V

1
P

C
P

or V =

pV = C or P1V1 = P2V2
Charles Law
(1) If the pressure of the particular quantity of gas is held constant, then with any change of state, the
volume will vary directly as the absolute temperature.
V T or V = CT

V
T

= C or

V1 V2
=
T 1 T2

(2) If the volume of a particular quantity of gas is held constant, then with any change of state, the
pressure will vary directly as the absolute temperature.
P T or p = CT

P
T

= C or

P1 P2
=
T1 T 2

Equation of State or Characteristic Equation of a Perfect Gas

Combining Boyles and Charles laws,

P1 V 1 P 2 V 2
=
T1
T2
pV
= mR
T
PV = mRT
PV = RT

Unit of
Measurement

(unit mass)
Where: p = absolute pressure
v = volume
V = specific volume
m = mass
T = absolute temperature
R = specific gas constant or simply gas
constant

ft3

lbm

ft lb f
lb m R

lb f
English units

Thermodynamics 1

ft

Prepared by: EDMER IVANZ R. SAN JUAN, ME

N
m2

SI Units

kgm

Nm
kg K

Example 1
Two vessels A and B of different sizes are connected by a pipe with a valve. Vessel A contains
142 L of air at 2, 767.92 kPa, 93.33C. Vessel B, of unknown volume, contains air at 68.95 kPa,
4.44C. The valve is opened and, when the properties have been determined, it is found that p m =
1328.96 kPa, tm = 43.33C. what is the volume of vessel B?
Solution:
For Vessel A:
PA = 2,767.92 kPa
VA = 142 liters
TA = 93.33 + 273 = 366.33 K
For Vessel B:
PA = 68.95 kPa
TA = 4.44 + 273 = 277.44 K
For the mixture:
pm = 1328.96 kPa
tm = 43.33C + 273 = 316.33 K
mm = mA + mB

pmV m pA V A pB V B
=
+
RT m
RT A
RT B

(1328.96)V m ( 2767.92 ) (142) (68.95)V B

=
+
316.33
366.33
277.44
4.2012 Vm = 1072.9 + 0.25 VB (1)
Vm = 142 + VB (2)
Solving equations 1 and 2 simultaneously
VB = 120.5535 liters
Specific Heat
The specific heat of a substance is defined as the quantity of heat required to change the temperature
of unit mass through one degree.
In dimensional form,

Thermodynamics 1

Prepared by: EDMER IVANZ R. SAN JUAN, ME

heat(energy units)
( mass ) (change of temperature)

In differential quantities,

dQ
mdT

c=

or dQ = mcdT

and for particular mass m,

2

Q =m

cdT
1

(The specific heat equation)

If the mean or instantaneous value of specific heat is used,
2

Q =mc

dT
1

= mc (T2 T1)

(constant specific heat)

Constant Volume Specific Heat (Cv)

Qv =

Qv = mCv (T2 T1)

Volume
Constant

Qv
Constant Pressure Specific Heat (Cp)

Qp =

mCp (T2 T1)

2

Qp =

U+W= U+

Qp =

U + p(V2 V1)

pdV
1

= U2 U1 + P2V2 P1V1

Q p = H2 H 1 =

Pressure
Constant

Thermodynamics 1

Prepared by: EDMER IVANZ R. SAN JUAN, ME

Qp
Ratio of Specific Heats

k=

Cp
Cv > 1

Internal Energy of an Ideal Gas

Joules law states that the change of internal energy of an ideal gas is a function of only the
temperature change. Therefore,

U is given by the formula,

U = mCv (T2 T1)

whether the volume remains constant or not.
Enthalpy of an Ideal Gas
The change of enthalpy of an ideal gas is given by the formula,

H = mCp (T2 T1)

whether the pressure remains constant or not.

Relation between Cp and Cv
From h = u + pv and pv = RT
dh = du + RdT
CpdT = CvdT + RdT
Cp = Cv + R
Cv =

Cp =

kR
k1

R
k1

Thermodynamics 1

Prepared by: EDMER IVANZ R. SAN JUAN, ME

Example 2
For a certain ideal gas R = 25.8 ft.lb/lbR and k = 1.09 (a) What are the values of Cp and Cv? (b)
What mass of this gas would occupy a volume of 15 cu ft at 75 psia and 80F? (c) If 30 Btu are
transferred to this gas at constant volume in (b), what are the resulting temperature and pressure?
Solution:
(a) Cp =

kR
k1

Cv =

Cp
k

( 1.09 )(25.8)
1.091

(b) V = 15 cu. ft
m=

pV
RT

0.4016
1.09

= 312.47

= 0.3685

ft . lb
lb . R

or 0.4016

Btu
lb . R

Btu
lb . R
T = 80 +460 = 540 R

p = 75 psia

( 75 )( 144 ) (15)
=
( 25.8 ) (540) = 11.63 lb

(c) Q = mCv (T2 T1)

30 = 11.63 (0.3685) (T2 540)
T2 = 547 R
P2 = (T2/T1) = 75 (547/540) = 76 psia
Entropy (S,s)
Is that property of a substance which remains constant if no heat enters or leaves the substance,
while it does work or alters its volume, but which increases or diminishes should a small amount of
heat enter or leave.
The change of entropy of a substance receiving (or delivering) heat is defined by
dS =

dQ
T

or

S=

where: dQ = heat transferred at the temperature T

S = total change of entropy

2

S=

mcdT
T
1

S = mc

dT
T
1

= mc ln

(Constant specific heat)

Temperature Entropy Coordinates

T2
T1

dQ
T
1

dQ = TdS
2

Q=

TdS
1

The area under the curve of the process on the TS plane

represents the quantity of heat transferred during the process.

Other Energy Relations

2

Vdp
1

= Ws +

(Reversible steady flow,

P = 0)

The area behind the curve of the process on the pV planes

represents the work of a steady flow process when
or it represents

K = 0,

K = 0, or it represents K when Ws=

0.
Any process that can be made to go in the reverse direction by an infinitesimal change in the
conditions is called a reversible process.
Any process that is not reversible is reversible.