Published October 1979 | Version v1
Journal article

Pressure-volume work exercises illustrating the first and second laws

  • 1. Department of Applied Science, University of California Davis-Livermore and University of California Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550

Description

We present two exercises involving rapid compression and expansion of ideal gases. The exercises are useful teaching tools and illustrate the first and second laws of thermodynamics. The first problem involves the conversion of gravitational energy into heat through mechanical work. The second involves the mutual interaction of two gases through an adiabatic piston. Both local and global versions of the second law can be applied to this second exercise. Both problems are also treated by numerical fluid dynamics

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Am. J. Phys.
Journal Volume
47
Journal Issue
10
Series
Am. J. Phys.
Journal Page Range
851-856
ISSN
0002-9505