PV Diagrams
Pressure-Volume (PV) diagrams are a primary visualization tool for the study of heat engines. Since the engines usually involve a gas as a working substance, the ideal gas law relates the PV diagram to the temperature so that the three essential state variables for the gas can be tracked through the engine cycle. Since work is done only when the volume of the gas changes, the diagram gives a visual interpretation of work done. Since the internal energy of an ideal gas depends upon its temperature, the PV diagram along with the temperatures calculated from the ideal gas law determine the changes in the internal energy of the gas so that the amount of heat added can be evaluated from the first law of thermodynamics. In summary, the PV diagram provides the framework for the analysis of any heat engine which uses a gas as a working substance.
For a cyclic heat engine process, the PV diagram will be closed loop. The area inside the loop is a representation of the amount of work done during a cycle. Some idea of the relative efficiency of an engine cycle can be obtained by comparing its PV diagram with that of a Carnot cycle, the most efficient kind of heat engine cycle.
Discussion
math, math, math
Recall from the previous section…
ΔU = Q + W
Q > 0 system absorbs heat from the environment
Q < 0 system releases heat to the environment
W > 0 work done on the system by the environment
W < 0 work done by the system on the environment
A system can be described by three thermodynamic variables. — pressure, volume, and temperature. Well, maybe it's only two variables. With everything tied together by the ideal gas law, one variable can always be described as dependent on the other two.
⎧
⎪
⎪
⎨
⎪
⎪
⎩ P = nRT
V
PV = nRT ⇒ V = nRT
P
T = PV
nR
Temperature is the slave of pressure and volume on a pressure-volume graph (PV graph).
Function of State
ΔU = 3 nRΔT
2
Function of Path: Work
W = ∫ F · ds = ∫ P dV
W = − area on PV graph
Function of Path: Heat
Q = ΔU + W = ncΔT
cP = specific heat at constant pressure
cV = specific heat at constant temperature
curves
isobaric
constant pressure
"bar" comes from the greek word for heavy: βαρύς [varys]
examples: weighted piston, flexible container in earth's atmosphere, hot air balloon
PV graph is a horizontal line
W = −PΔV ⇒ ΔU = Q − PΔV
isobarconstant pressurehorizontal PV graphW = – P∆V & ∆U = Q – P∆V
isochoric
constant volume
"chor" comes from the greek word for volume: χώρος [khoros]
examples: closed rigid container, constant volume thermometer
PV graph is a vertical line
W = 0 ⇒ ΔU = Q
isochorconstant volumevertical PV graphW = 0 & ∆U = Q
isothermal
constant temperature
"therm" comes from the greek work for heat: θερμότητα [thermotita]
examples: "slow" processes, breathing out through a wide open mouth
PV graph is a rectangular hyperbola
ΔU = 0 ⇒ Q = −W
isothermconstant temperaturehyperbolic PV graph∆U = 0 & Q = –W
adiabatic
no heat exchange with the environment
adiabatic has a complex greek origin that means "not+through+go": α + Δια + βατός [a + dia + vatos]
examples: "fast" processes, forcing air out through pursed lips, bicycle tire pump
PV diagram is a "steep hyperbola"
Q = 0 ⇒ ΔU = W
adiabatno heat transfer“steep hyperbolic” PV graphQ = 0 & ∆U = W[
PVγ = constant
γ = cP = α + 1
cV α
3/2 + 1 = 5 monatomic
3/2 2
5/2 + 1 = 7 diatomic
5/2 5
Superman illustrates adiabatic cooling brought about by the rapid expansion of a gas, thus preventing the evil General Zod from heating the truck's fuel tank to the point of explosion. Thank you Superman. You've saved us.
thermodynamic variables
pressure
volume
temperature
function of state
internal energy
function of path
work
heat
curves
isobaric
isochoric
isothermal
adiabatic