Interactive Self-Study Module: Adiabatic Reversible Expansion and Compression
Overview:
This module uses screencasts and interactive simulations to explain adiabatic reversible expansion and compression. Your retention of material in this module will increase if you write down reasons for your answers to ConcepTests, questions in screencasts, and questions to answer before using interactive simulations, and you try to solve the example problems before watching the screencast solutions.
We suggest using the learning resources in the following order:
- Attempt to answer the multiple choice ConcepTest and solve the example problem before watching the screencasts or working with the simulations.
- Watch the screencasts that describe the pressure-temperature relationship for adiabatic, reversible processes of ideal gases and answer the questions within the screencasts.
- Review the important equations.
- Use the interactive simulation to further understand the behavior of an ideal gas undergoing adiabatic expansion or contraction.
- Try to solve the example problems before watching the solutions in the screencast.
- Answer the ConcepTests.
- Look at the list of key points, but only after you try to list the key points yourself.
Motivation:
- This module is intended for a thermodynamics course.
Before studying this module, you should be able to:
- Apply the Ideal Gas Law.
- Explain the First Law – Closed Systems.
- Calculate and describe Entropy.
After studying this module, you should be able to:
- Calculate the final temperature and volume for an adiabatic, reversible expansion or compression of an ideal gas, given the initial temperature and pressure (or volume) and the final pressure.
- Calculate the final temperature and pressure for an adiabatic, reversible expansion or compression of an ideal gas, given the initial temperature and pressure or volume) and the final volume.
- Calculate the work for an adiabatic, reversible expansion or compression of an ideal gas in a closed system.
- Calculate the shaft work for adiabatic, reversible expansion or compression of an ideal gas in a steady-state flow system.
- Carry out the above calculations for either a constant heat capacity or a temperature-dependent heat capacity.