Fundamentals of Thermodynamics
B.S. Racheti
M.E. (Mech) MBA (HR)
Energy Auditor
31 years of Industrial
Experience
4 years of Teaching
Experience
Project Guide to MBA
Contents
Temperature
Scales of Temperature
Constant Volume
Thermometer
Numericals on
Temperature
Revision : Temperature
In last article we have defined Pressure, types of pressure
measuring devices and some numericals based on Temperature is a pointer for the direction of
pressure. energy transfer as heat.
Note:
As discussed Pressure P = h ρ g
Unit of h ( Head ) in Meters, m
Unit of ρ ( Density ) in Kg / m3
Unit of g ( Gravitational Constant ) in m / s2
Therefore Pressure P = m x Kg/m3 x m/s2
= Kg /(m-s2) ------------------------- (i) Fig. 13: Heat transfer occurs in the direction of higher‐to‐lower‐
temperature.
But unit of Pressure as we know is N / m2 in SI system. When the temperatures of two bodies are the
same, thermal equilibrium is reached. The
Here note that actual formula for P = h ρ g / gc equality of temperature is the only requirement
( gc another gravitational constant is hidden)
for thermal equilibrium.
In engineering and physics, gc is a unit conversion factor The zeroth law of thermodynamics: states that
used to convert mass to force or vice versa. In SI units, gc is if two bodies are in thermal equilibrium with a
equal to 1. Its unit is 1 (kg·m)/(N·s2) third body, they are also in thermal equilibrium
So now take factor gc in eqn. (i) with each other. The zeroth law makes a
thermometer possible.
P = {( Kg /m-s2 )} / {(kg·m)/(N·s2)}
After simplifying you will get P = N / m2
Scales of Temperature:
There are three temperature scales in use Fahrenheit,
Celsius and Kelvin. Fahrenheit temperature scale is a scale
based on 32 for the freezing point of water and 212 for the
boiling point of water, the interval between the two being
divided into 180 parts.
The conversion formula for a temperature that is expressed
on the Celsius (C) scale to its Fahrenheit (F) representation
is: F = 9/5 x C + 32.
Celsius temperature scale also called centigrade
temperature scale, is the scale based on 0 for the freezing
point of water and 100 for the boiling point of water.
Kelvin temperature scale is the base unit of thermodynamic
temperature measurement in the International System (SI) of
measurement. It is defined as 1/ 273.16 of the triple point
(equilibrium among the solid, liquid, and gaseous phases) of
pure water
The triple point of a substance is the temperature and
pressure at which the three phases (gas, liquid, and solid) of
that substance coexist in thermodynamic equilibrium. The
triple point of water is used to define the Kelvin(K), the base
unit of thermodynamic temperature in the International System
of Units (SI). The triple point of water is 273.16 K, 0.01 ∘ C, or
32.018∘ F.
Fig. The triple point of water
Constant volume gas thermometer
In Constant volume gas thermometer, firstly the gas tube
which has constant amount of gas is connected to the system
of which the temperature needs to be found. With every slight
change in temperature value in the gas tube, there will be a
corresponding change in the pressure inside Tube A. Some
amount of change in the level of mercury can also be seen
when there is any change in the temperature value. To
maintain the level of mercury in tube A, the tube B needs to
be moved up and down physically to keep the level
fixed. When the value of the temperature starts to rise, the
gas within the gas tube starts expanding and tries to push
mercury in tube A downwards and causes difference in the
levels of mercury of both the tubes. This process happens
until the mercury in tube A comes to its original position which
will happen by moving the tube B up and down in order to Then using relation of pressure law,
force the gas to shrink and come to its initial volume. To mark we can find out the temperature of
pressure at the mercury level maintained in tube A: material to be measured.
p= patm+ ρgh P1 / P2 = T2 /T1
Where p = pressure, ρ= density in kg/m3, g = acceleration
due to gravity 9.8 m/s2, h = depth in liquid in meters, patm
= atmospheric pressure.
Numericals:
1. The temperature t on a thermometric scale
is defined in terms of a property K by the 2. The resistance of the windings in a certain motor is
relation t = a ln K + b Where a and b are found to be 80 ohms at room temperature (25°C). When
constants. The values of K are found to be
1.83 and 6.78 at the ice point and the steam operating at full load under steady state conditions, the
point, the temperatures of which are assigned motor is switched off and the resistance of the windings,
the numbers 0 and 100 respectively. Determine
the temperature corresponding to a reading of immediately measured again, is found to be 93 ohms.
K equal to 2.42 on the thermometer. The windings are made of copper whose resistance at
Solution: t = a ln x + b
0 = a x ln 1.83 + b … (i) temperature t°C is given by Rt = R0 [1 + 0.00393 t]
100 = a x ln 6.78 + b … (ii) Where R0 is the resistance at 0°C. Find the
Equation {(ii) – (i)} gives temperature attained by the coil during full load.
a × ln( 6.78/1.83) = 100
Or a = 76.35
Solution: R25 = R0 [1 + 0.00393 × 25]
b = - (a . ln 1.83) 80
= - 46.143 R0 72.84
1 0.00393 25
Substituting values of a and b in given eqn
t = 76.35 ln k - 46.14 93 72.84 1 0.00393t
Now If k = 2.42 then or t 70.425C
t* = 76.35 ´ ln 2.42 - 46.143
= 21.33°C
3. In a constant volume gas thermometer the following pairs of pressure readings
were taken at the boiling point of water and the boiling point of sulphur, respectively:
The numbers are the gas pressures, mm Hg, each pair being taken with the same
amount of gas in the thermometer, but the successive pairs being taken with
different amounts of gas in the thermometer. Plot the ratio of Sb.p.:H2Ob.p. against
the reading at the water boiling point, and extrapolate the plot to zero pressure at the So we have
water boiling point. This gives the ratio of Sb.p. : H2Ob.p. On a gas thermometer
completed First
operating at zero gas pressure, i.e., an ideal gas thermometer. What is the boiling We will meet in
point of sulphur on the gas scale, from your plot? Introductory part
next course with
of unit –I in part-A
First law of
Water b.p. 50.0 100 200 300 with some
thermodynamics
numericals on
Sulphur b.p. 96.4 193 387 582 of unit-I in part B.
Pressure and
Temperature.
