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Date November 2019 Marks available 3 Reference code 19N.3.SL.TZ0.6
Level Standard level Paper Paper 3 Time zone 0 - no time zone
Command term Determine Question number 6 Adapted from N/A

Question

An ideal gas consisting of 0.300 mol undergoes a process ABCD. AB is an adiabatic expansion from the initial volume VA to the volume 1.5 VA. BC is an isothermal compression. The pressures at C and D are the same as at A.

The following data are available.

Pressure at A = 250 kPa
Volume at C   = 3.50 × 10–3 m3
Volume at D   = 2.00 × 10–3 m3

The gas at C is further compressed to D at a constant pressure. During this compression the temperature decreases by 150 K.

For the compression CD,

Show that the pressure at B is about 130 kPa.

[2]
a(i).

Calculate the ratio VAVC.

[1]
a(ii).

determine the thermal energy removed from the system.

[3]
b(i).

explain why the entropy of the gas decreases.

[2]
b(ii).

state and explain whether the second law of thermodynamics is violated.

[2]
b(iii).

Markscheme

PB=250×1031.553«from PB1.5VA53=250×103×VA53» 

= 127 kPa

a(i).

«127×103×1.5VA=250×103VC»

1.31 ✔

a(ii).

ALTERNATIVE 1

work done W=«-»250×103×1.5×10-3=«-»375«J» 

change in internal energy U=32×0.300×8.31×-150=«-»561«J»
OR
U=32PV=32×375=«-»563«J» 

thermal energy removed Q=375+561=936«J»
OR
Q=375+563=938«J» 

 

ALTERNATIVE 2

Q=«nCpT=»52×nRT 

thermal energy removed Q=0.300×2.5×8.31×150 

=935«J»

b(i).

ALTERNATIVE 1

«from b(i)» Q is negative 

S=QT AND S is negative 

 

ALTERNATIVE 2

T and/or V decreases ✔

less disorder/more order «so S decreases» ✔

 

ALTERNATIVE 3

T decreases ✔

S=K×lnT2T1<0 ✔

 

NOTE: Answer given, look for a valid reason that S decreases.

b(ii).

not violated ✔

the entropy of the surroundings must have increased
OR
the overall entropy of the system and the surroundings is the same or increased ✔

b(iii).

Examiners report

[N/A]
a(i).
[N/A]
a(ii).
[N/A]
b(i).
[N/A]
b(ii).
[N/A]
b(iii).

Syllabus sections

Option B: Engineering physics » Option B: Engineering physics (Core topics) » B.2 – Thermodynamics
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Option B: Engineering physics » Option B: Engineering physics (Core topics)
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