1|Page

FUNDAMENTALS OF THERMODYNAMICS AND HEAT TRANSFER

SAMPLE PROBLEMS FOR TUTORIAL NO: 1

THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES

Closed Systems with Linear Springs

When a linear spring is stretched by an applied force, the elongation of the spring is proportional
to the applied force. [Hooke‟s Law]
Fx
F   Kx
Where K is the force constant of the spring and „x‟ measures the amount by which the spring is
stretched or compressed. „–ve‟ sign („-‟) indicates that the force exerted by the spring is always
in the opposite direction to the applied force (opposite to elongation or compression of spring).
The work necessary to stretch or compress a linear spring with spring constant K from a length
„x1‟ to „x2‟ can be found by integrating the force over the distance by which spring is stretched or
compressed.
x2
 x2 
x2 x2

W   Fdx   Kxdx  K    K  x22  x12 

1
x1 x1  2  x1 2
If the spring is stretched or compressed from its original length, then x1 = 0 and x2 = x.

1 2
W  Kx
2

Springs in Parallel

Both the springs elongate or compressed by equal distance. If „x‟ m be the elongation of springs.
Then,

F  K eff x
F1  K1 x x
F2  K 2 x x
Now,
F  F1  F2
K eff x  K1 x  K 2 x
 K eff  K1  K 2 ,x

2077 Even Semester EXAMPLE 1

2|Page

Springs in Series

If two springs are connected in series, then total elongation or compression is the sum of the
elongation or compression of both the springs. Both the springs will be applied with same force.
If „xm‟be the total elongation and „x1‟ and „x2‟ be the elongations of respective springs then,
F
F  keff x  x 
K eff
F1
F1  k1 x1  x1 
k1 , x1 , x2
F2
F2  k2 x2  x2 
k2
But, F1  F2  F
Then, Total elongation or compression, x  x1  x2 ,x
F F F
 
keff k1 k2
1 1 1
  
keff k1 k2

Things to Remember
• Specific Volume
3
– Ratio of volume per unit mass (m /kg)
– Inverse of Density
– Denoted by small letter “v”
• Extensive Property (Volume, Mass)
– Dependent on mass
– Additive by nature
• Intensive Property (Density, Specific Volume, Pressure, Temperature)
– Independent on mass
– Not additive

2077 Even Semester EXAMPLE 1

3|Page

1. A container has two compartments separated by a membrane as shown in Figure E1.1.

Compartment A has 2 kg of air and a volume of 1 m3; compartment B has 1.5 m3 of air with
a specific volume of 2.5 m3/kg. If the membrane is broken, determine the resultant specific
volume. ( )

Solution:
Mass of air in compartment A, mA = 2 kg
Volume of compartment A, VA = 1 m3
Volume of compartment B, VB = 1.5 m3
Specific volume of air in compartment B, vB = 2.5 m3/kg
Now,
Resultant specific volume, v = Vtot./ mtot.
Mass of air in compartment B, mB = VB/vB= 0.6 kg
Therefore, v = Vtot./ mtot.= (VA+VB)/(mA+mB) = 0.961 m3/kg

2. A cylinder with a total volume of 1 m3 has a movable piston as shown in Figure P1.3. When
the piston is at one fourth of the length, both sides have same specific volume of 4 m 3/kg.
Determine the specific volumes of both sides when the piston is at middle of the cylinder.
( ,

Solution:
Total volume of cylinder, Vtot.= 1 m3
Initially, when the piston is at one fourth (x =L/4) of the length,
Specific volume of region A, vAi = Specific volume of region B, vBi
i.e. vAi = vBi = 4 m3/kg
Volume of compartment A, VAi = 0.25 m3
Volume of compartment B, VBi = 0.75 m3
Mass of compartnment A, mAi = VAi / vAi =0.25/4
= 0.0625 kg
Mass of compartnment B, mBi = VBi / vBi =0.75/4
= 0.1875 kg

Finally, when the piston is at the middle of the cylinder,

x = L/2
Total volume of region A, VAf = Total volume of Region B, VBf = Vf = Vtot./2 = 0.5 m3
Mass of compartment A = mAi
= mAf = mA = 0.0625 kg
Mass of compartment B = mBi
= mBf = mB = 0.18755 kg
Specific volume of A, vAf = VAf/mA = 8 m3/kg
Specific volume of B, vBf = VBf/mB = 2.667 m3/kg

2077 Even Semester EXAMPLE 1

4|Page

Things to Remember
• Gauge Pressure: Pressure measured with reference to external pressure
• Atmospheric Pressure: Pressure of atmosphere
• Absolute Pressure: Pressure measured with reference to vacuum.

• Absolute Pressure = Atmospheric Pressure + Gauge Pressure

• Absolute Pressure = Atmospheric Pressure – Negative Gauge Pressure (Vacuum
Pressure)

3. Figure P1.5 shows a tank within a tank, each containing air. Pressure gage A is located
inside the tank B and reads 140 kPa. The U-tube manometer connected to tank B contains
mercury. Using data on the diagram, determine the absolute pressures inside the tank A and
tank B. ( ,

Solution:
Reading of pressure gauge A,
Pgauge A = 140 kPa
Atmoshperic pressure, Patm = 101 kPa
Manometer reading, hman.= 20 cm of Hg
= 20 x 10-2m of Hg
Density of Mercury, ρHg= 13.59 g/cm3
= 13590 kg/m3
Gauge pressure reading of manometer,
Pgaugeman.= ρHgg hman.= 13590 x 9.81 x 20 x
10-2 = 26663.58 Pa = 26.664 kPa
Let PA and PB be the absolute pressure inside
tank A and tank B respectively.
Then,

2077 Even Semester EXAMPLE 1

5|Page

Absolute Pressure inside tank A,

PA = PB + PgaugeA
Absolute Pressure inside tank B,
PB = Patm + Pgaugeman.
= 101 + 26.664
= 127.664 kPa
Then,
PA = PB + PgaugeA
= 267.664 kPa

• A gauge measures pressure of compartment 1 with respect to outer pressure that is

atmospheric pressure
• B gauge measures pressure of compartment 2 w.r.t. pressure of compartment 1
• C gauge measures pressure of compartment 2 w.r.t. atmospheric pressure
• P1abs = PA + Patm
• P2abs = PB + P1abs
• P2abs = PC + Patm
4. A large chamber is separated into two compartments which are maintained at different
pressures, as shown Figure E1.2. Pressure gauge A reads 180 kPa, and pressure gauge B
reads 120 kPa. If the barometric pressure is 100 kPa, determine the absolute pressure existing
in the compartments and the reading of gauge C. (220 kPa, 40 kPa, – 60 kPa)

Solution:
Reading of pressure gauge A, PgaugeA = 180 kPa
Reading of pressure gauge B, PgaugeB = 120 kPa
Barometric pressure Patm = 100 kPa
Let PX and PY be the absolute pressure of compartments X and
Y respectively.
Then,
PX = Patm + PgaugeB
PX = PY + PgaugeA
PY = Patm + PgaugeC

5. The piston of a vertical piston cylinder device containing as gas has a mass of 50 kg and a
cross sectional area of 0.02 m2, as shown in Figure E1.3.
(a) Determine the pressure inside the cylinder.
(b) During some process heat is lost by the gas to the surroundings and its volume decreases
to ¾ th of the initial volume, determine its final pressure. [Take = 100 kPa and =
9.81 m/s2] ( , )

2077 Even Semester EXAMPLE 1

6|Page

Solution:

Figure E1.3

6. A gas is contained in a vertical, frictionless piston–cylinder device shown in Figure P1.9.

The piston has a mass of 4 kg and a cross-sectional area of 35 cm2. A compressed spring
above the piston exerts a force of 60 N on the piston. If the atmospheric pressure is 95 kPa,
determine the pressure inside the cylinder. (123.4 kPa)

7. A 15 kg piston in a cylinder with diameter of 0.15 m is loaded with a linear spring and the
outside atmospheric pressure of 100 kPa, as shown in Figure P1.11. The spring exerts no
force on the piston when it is at the bottom of the cylinder and for the state shown, the
pressure is 300 kPa with volume of 0.02 m3. The valve is opened to let some air in, causing
the piston to rise 5 cm. Find the new pressure. [Take ] (308.47 kPa)

8. A new scale N of temperature is deviced in such a way that the freezing point of ice is 100 0N
and boiling point is 4000N. What is the temperature reading on this new scale when the
temperature is 1500C? At what temperature, both the Celsius and new temperature scale
reading would be the same? ( , )

2077 Even Semester EXAMPLE 1