Name :

Marks :

Essay
20. (a) Explain what is meant by isothermal change and adiabatic change?
[2 marks ]
(b) State three differences between isothermal process and adiabatic
process ?

[ 3 marks ]

(c) (i) Explain why the temperature of a ideal gas increases during adiabatic
compression?

[ 2 marks]

(ii) Explain why the internal energy of an ideal gas remains unchanged during
isothermal expansion?

[ 2 marks ]

( d ) Explain what is meant by the degree of freedom of a gas molecule?

[ 2 marks]
(e) State the principle of equipartition of energy. Use the principle of
equipartition of energy to derive an expression of, , the ratio of the
principal molar heat capacities of a gas in terms of f, the number of
degree of freedom?

[ 4 marks]

ANSWER
20 (a) Isothermal change is the change in the state of a gas either expansion or
compression of gas which take place at constant temperature.
) Adiabatics change is the change in the state of a gas either expansion or
compression of gas where
no heat is allowed to enter or leave the gas.
Three Differences of Isothermal and Adiabatic Change

1
2
3
.
4

Isothermal change
Temperature remains constant
Heat is allowed to follow in and
out from the container
Process carry out in small steps
and slowly
The container is made of thin
wall and conducting material

Adiabatik change
Temperature change
Heat is not allowed to follow in and out from the
container
Process carry out in small steps and fast
The container is made of thick wall and nonconducting material

c) (i) During an adiabatics compression, work done on the gas will be converted
to heat and
this heat will absord by the gas molecules because during adiabatics
process, heat is not
allowed to flow out from the gas. The internal energy of the gas will
increase and since the
internal energy of the gas is directly proportional to temperature of the
gas (U = n f/2 RT),
therefore the temperature of the gas will also increase.
(2)
Refer to Q =U + W Q = 0 (adiabatics process)
U = - (- )

U = - W

because W= - (compression)

= + (internal energy increases)

(ii) During isothermal expansion, work is done by the gas and the energy
required for the
gas to do external work is absorded from the surroundings and not from
the internal
energy of the gas because during isothermal process, heat will flow into
the gas through

the thin-walled which made of good conducting material. Therefore the

internal energy
of the gas will remain unchanged. Since internasl energy is directly
proportional to the
temperature of the gas so the temperature of the gas will also remain
unchanged.
(2)
Refer to Q =U + W U = 0 (isothermal process)

Q = W

Since W= + (expansion) then Q = + ( mean heat flow into the gas through
the wall of the cylinder)

(d) The degree of freedom is defined as an independent way for the gas to
acquire
kinetic energy.
(2)
(c ) Maxwells principle of equipartition of energy states that the mean kinetic
energy
associated with each degree of freedom of a molecule is KT
For one molecule with deghree of freedom f ; Mean kinetic energy = f/2 KT
(1)

NA
For one mole of gas : mean kinetic energy =

f
KT
2

f
2 NA

KT =

f
2

RT

For ideal gas ; Internal energy of one mole of gas = Mean kinetic energy of one
mole gas

U=

f
2

RT

(1)

For n mole of gas : U = n x

(1)

f
2

RT

Use first law of thermodynamics Q = U + W

Cv , m
At constant volume, the heat absord

Q = n

and W = p V=0

Cv , m
Therefore

U
T

U = Q = n

Cv , m
=n

1 dU
n dT

Cv , m

1 d
n dT

1
n

f
2

(n

(n

f
2

RT)

R)=

f
2

(1)

C p,m

Cv , m

Use

=R

C p,m

Cv , m
=R+

=R+

f
2

= (1 +

f
2

)R=(

f 2
2

)R

(1)

C p, m
C p,m
The ratio of
(1)

Cv , m
to

Cv , m

f 2
)R
f
f
R
2

f 2
f
=