Chapter Twelve

THERMODYNAMICS

MCQ I
12.1 An ideal gas undergoes four different processes from the
same initial state (Fig. 12.1). Four processes are adiabatic,
isothermal, isobaric and isochoric. Out of 1, 2, 3 and 4 which 4
one is adiabatic. P 3
(a) 4 2
(b) 3 1
(c) 2
V
(d) 1
Fig. 12.1

12.2 If an average person jogs, hse produces 14.5 × 103 cal/min. This is
removed by the evaporation of sweat. The amount of sweat evaporated
per minute (assuming 1 kg requires 580 × 103 cal for evaparation) is
(a) 0.25 kg
(b) 2.25 kg
(c) 0.05 kg
(d) 0.20 kg

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 Exemplar Problems–Physics

12.3 Consider P-V diagram for an ideal gas shown in Fig 12.2.

P 1
Con s ta n t
P=
V
2
V
Fig. 12.2

Out of the following diagrams (Fig. 12.3), which represents

the T-P diagram?

TT T
2
2

1 1
P P
(i) (ii)

T
T T

2 1 1 2

P P
(iii) (iv)

Fig. 12.3
(a) (iv)
(b) (ii)
(c) (iii)
(d) (i)

12.4 An ideal gas undergoes cyclic process ABCDA as shown in given

P-V diagram (Fig. 12.4).
The amount of work done by
the gas is
(a) 6PoVo
(b) –2 PoVo
(c) + 2 PoVo
(d) + 4 PoVo
Fig 12.4

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 Thermodynamics

12.5 Consider two containers A and B containing identical gases at

the same pressure, volume and temperature. The gas in container
A is compressed to half of its original volume isothermally while
the gas in container B is compressed to half of its original value
adiabatically. The ratio of final pressure of gas in B to that of gas
in A is

(a) 2γ −1
γ −1
1
(b)  
2
2
 1 
(c)  
1 − γ 
2
 1 
(d)  
 γ −1

12.6 Three copper blocks of masses M1, M2 and M3 kg respectively are

brought into thermal contact till they reach equilibrium. Before
contact, they were at T1, T2, T3 (T1 > T2 > T3 ). Assuming there is no
heat loss to the surroundings, the equilibrium temprature T is
(s is specific heat of copper)

T1 + T2 + T3
(a) T =
3

M1T1 + M 2 T2 + M 3 T3
(b) T =
M1 + M 2 + M 3

M 1T1 + M 2 T2 + M 3 T3
(c) T =
3 ( M1 + M 2 + M 3 )

M1T1s + M 2 T2s + M 3 T3s

(d) T =
M1 + M 2 + M 3

MCQ II
12.7 Which of the processes described below are irreversible?
(a) The increase in temprature of an iron rod by hammering it.
(b) A gas in a small cantainer at a temprature T1 is brought in
contact with a big reservoir at a higher temprature T2 which
increases the temprature of the gas.
(c) A quasi-static isothermal expansion of an ideal gas in cylinder
fitted with a frictionless piston.

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 Exemplar Problems–Physics

(d) An ideal gas is enclosed in a piston cylinder arrangement

with adiabatic walls. A weight W is added to the piston,
resulting in compression of gas.

12.8 An ideal gas undergoes isothermal process from some initial state
i to final state f. Choose the correct alternatives.
(a) dU = 0
(b) dQ= 0
(c) dQ = dU
P
(d) dQ = dW
I
IV 12.9 Figure 12.5 shows the P-V diagram of an ideal gas undergoing a
A change of state from A to B. Four different parts I, II, III and IV as
II shown in the figure may lead to the same change of state.
B
III
(a) Change in internal energy is same in IV and III cases, but not in I
and II.
(b) Change in internal energy is same in all the four cases.
V (c) Work done is maximum in case I
(d) Work done is minimum in case II.
Fig. 12.5

12.10 Consider a cycle followed by an engine (Fig. 12.6)

1 to 2 is isothermal
2 to 3 is adiabatic
3 to 1 is adiabatic
Such a process does not exist because
(a) heat is completely converted to mechanical energy in such a
process, which is not possible.
(b) mechanical energy is completely converted to heat in this
process,which is not possible.
(c) curves representing two adiabatic processes don’t intersect.
(d) curves representing an adiabatic process and an isothermal
Fig. 12.6 process don’t intersect.

12.11 Consider a heat engine as shown in

Fig. 12.7. Q1 and Q2 are heat added to heat
bath T1 and heat taken from T2 in one cycle
of engine. W is the mechanical work done
on the engine.
If W > 0, then possibilities are:
(a) Q1 > Q2 > 0
(b) Q2 > Q1 > 0
(c) Q2 < Q1 < 0
Fig .12.7
(d) Q1 < 0, Q2 > 0

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VSA
12.12 Can a system be heated and its temperature remains constant?

12.13 A system goes from P to Q by two different paths in the P-V

diagram as shown in Fig. 12.8. Heat given to the system in
path 1 is 1000 J. The work done by the system along path 1 is
more than path 2 by 100 J. What is the heat exchanged by the
system in path 2?
Fig. 12.8
12.14 If a refrigerator’s door is kept open, will the room become cool or
hot? Explain.

12.15 Is it possible to increase the temperature of a gas without adding

heat to it? Explain.

12.16 Air pressure in a car tyre increases during driving. Explain.

SA
12.17 Consider a Carnot’s cycle operating between T1 = 500 K and
T2=300K producing 1 k J of mechanical work per cycle. Find the
heat transferred to the engine by the reservoirs.

12.18 A person of mass 60 kg wants to lose 5kg by going up and down

a 10m high stairs. Assume he burns twice as much fat while
going up than coming down. If 1 kg of fat is burnt on expending
7000 kilo calories, how many times must he go up and down to
reduce his weight by 5 kg?

12.19 Consider a cycle tyre being filled with air by a pump. Let V be the
volume of the tyre (fixed) and at each stroke of the pump ∆V ( V )
of air is transferred to the tube adiabatically. What is the work
done when the pressure in the tube is increased from P1 to P2?

12.20 In a refrigerator one removes heat from a lower temperature

and deposits to the surroundings at a higher temperature. In
this process, mechanical work has to be done, which is provided
by an electric motor. If the motor is of 1kW power, and heat is
transferred from –3°C to 27°C, find the heat taken out of the
refrigerator per second assuming its efficiency is 50% of a
perfect engine.

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12.21 If the co-efficient of performance of a refrigerator is 5 and operates

at the room temperature (27 °C), find the temperature inside the
refrigerator.

12.22 The initial state of a certain gas is (Pi, Vi, Ti). It undergoes
expansion till its volume becoms Vf . Consider the following two
cases:
(a) the expansion takes place at constant temperature.
(b) the expansion takes place at constant pressure.

Plot the P-V diagram for each case. In which of the two cases, is
the work done by the gas more?

LA
P 12.23 Consider a P-V diagram in which the path followed by one mole
1(P1, V1, T1) of perfect gas in a cylindrical container is shown in Fig. 12.9.
PV1/2= constant (a) Find the work done when the gas is taken from state 1 to
2(P2, V2, T2) state 2.
(b) What is the ratio of temperature T1/T2, if V2 = 2V1?
(c) Given the internal energy for one mole of gas at temperature T
V1 V2 V is (3/2) RT, find the heat supplied to the gas when it is taken
from state 1 to 2, with V2 = 2V1.
Fig. 12.9
12.24 A cycle followed by an engine (made of one mole of perfect gas in
a cylinder with a piston) is shown in Fig. 12.10.
A to B : volume constant
P B to C : adiabatic
B C C to D : volume constant
D to A : adiabatic
VC = VD = 2VA = 2VB

A D
(a) In which part of the cycle heat is supplied to the engine from
outside?
(b) In which part of the cycle heat is being given to the
V surrounding by the engine?
VA=VB VC=VD
(c) What is the work done by the engine in one cycle? Write your
Fig. 12.10 answer in term of PA, PB, VA.
(d) What is the efficiency of the engine?
3
[ γ = 5 3 for the gas], ( Cv = R for one mole)
2

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 Thermodynamics

12.25 A cycle followed by an engine (made of one mole of an ideal gas

in a cylinder with a piston) is shown in Fig. 12.11. Find heat
exchanged by the engine, with the surroundings for each section
of the cycle. (Cv = (3/2) R)
AB : constant volume
BC : constant pressure
CD : adiabatic
DA : constant pressure Fig. 12.11

12.26 Consider that an ideal gas (n moles) is expanding in a process

given by P = f ( V ), which passes through a point (V0, P0 ). Show
that the gas is absorbing heat at (P0, V0 ) if the slope of the curve
P = f (V ) is larger than the slope of the adiabat passing
through (P0, V0 ).

12.27 Consider one mole of perfect gas in a cylinder of unit cross section
with a piston attached (Fig. 12.12). A spring (spring constant k)
is attached (unstretched length L ) to the piston and to the bottom
of the cylinder. Initially the spring is unstretched and the gas is
in equilibrium. A certain amount of heat Q is supplied to the gas
causing an increase of volume from Vo to V1.
(a) What is the initial pressure of the system?
(b) What is the final pressure of the system?
(c) Using the first law of thermodynamics, write down a relation
between Q, Pa, V, Vo and k. Fig. 12.12

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