A piston divides a closed gas cylinder (lying horizontally) into two parts. Initially, the piston is kept pressed such that one part has a pressure P and volume 5 V and the other part has pressure 8 P and volume V . If the piston is now left free, the new pressure for the adiabatic process ( γ = 1 . 5 ) is given by n P . Find the value of n rounded to two decimal places.
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As it is adiabatic process, here is no matter of concern about heat exchange between the two parts. Now, after being freed the pressure will adjust to get stability. Hence, on the both part pressure will be the same, let P 0 .
Now,
P ( 5 V ) γ = P 0 V 1 γ .
And,
( 8 P ) V γ = P 0 V 2 γ .
From, these and substituting γ = 2 3 we get,
9 P 3 2 V = P 3 2 ( V 1 + V 2 ) = P 3 2 6 V .
So, P 0 = ( 2 3 ) 2 3 P = 1 . 8 3 7 . . P ≈ 1 . 8 4 P .
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Let us call final pressure (which will be the same fo both parts, since the system will be in equilibrium) as P f and the final volume of one of the parts as V f . Since both volumes add up initially to 6 V , at the end they'll add also to 6 V , so the final volume of the second part will be 6 V − V f . Thus, using Adiabatic process for an ideal gas equation:
P ( 5 V ) 1 . 5 = ( P f ) ( V f ) 1 . 5 (i)
( 8 P ) V 1 . 5 = ( P f ) ( 6 V − V f ) 1 . 5 (ii)
Dividing (i) by (ii):
8 5 1 . 5 = ( 6 V − V f ) 1 . 5 V f 1 . 5
Raising both sides to 3 2 :
4 5 = 6 V − V f V f
V f = 3 1 0 V
Plugging this in (i):
P ( 5 V ) 1 . 5 = ( P f ) ( 3 1 0 V ) 1 . 5
P f = 2 3 2 3 P
So:
n = 2 3 2 3 ≈ 1 . 8 4