CBSE · NCERT · Class 11 Physics · Chapter 11

NCERT Solutions: Class 11 Physics Chapter 11 - Thermodynamics

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Chapter-wise NCERT intext questions and exercise answers for Thermodynamics, grounded in the official textbook.

Questions are taken verbatim from the NCERT textbook; answers were grounded against the chapter's content during generation. Items needing review are marked.
Sections in this chapter
Exercises 8
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1Exercises8 questions
Q.11.1A geyser heats water flowing at the rate of 3.0 litres per minute from 27 °C to 77 °C. If the geyser operates on a gas burner, what is the rate of consumption of the fuel if its heat of combustion is 4.0 × 104 J/g ?v
Solution

Water flow rate is $3.0\,\text{L min}^{-1}=3.0\,\text{kg min}^{-1}=0.05\,\text{kg s}^{-1}$. Heat needed per second is $\dot Q=\dot m c\Delta T=0.05(4200)(50)=1.05\times10^4\,\text{J s}^{-1}$. Fuel consumption rate $=\dot Q/(4.0\times10^4)=0.2625\,\text{g s}^{-1}$.

Answer:

$0.26\,\text{g s}^{-1}$, or about $16\,\text{g min}^{-1}$.

Q.11.2What amount of heat must be supplied to 2.0 × 10–2 kg of nitrogen (at room temperature) to raise its temperature by 45 °C at constant pressure ? (Molecular mass of N2 = 28; R = 8.3 J mol–1 K–1.)v
Solution

Nitrogen is diatomic, so at room temperature $C_p=\frac72R=29.05\,\text{J mol}^{-1}\text{K}^{-1}$. Number of moles is $n=20\,\text{g}/28\,\text{g mol}^{-1}=0.714$. Therefore $Q=nC_p\Delta T=0.714(29.05)(45)=9.34\times10^2\,\text{J}$.

Answer:

$9.3\times10^2\,\text{J}$ approximately.

Q.11.3Explain why (a) Two bodies at different temperatures T1 and T2 if brought in thermal contact do not necessarily settle to the mean temperature (T1 + T2 )/2. (b) The coolant in a chemical or a nuclear plant (i.e., the liquid used to prevent the different parts of a plant from getting too hot) should have high specific heat. (c) Air pressure in a car tyre increases during driving. (d) The climate of a harbour town is more temperate than that of a town in a desert at the same latitude.v
Solution

Thermal equilibrium is set by heat lost by the hotter body equalling heat gained by the colder body; unequal masses or specific heats shift the final temperature away from the arithmetic mean. A coolant with high specific heat removes large heat without becoming too hot. During driving, flexing and friction heat the tyre and air, and at nearly fixed volume pressure rises with temperature. Coastal water heats and cools slowly, moderating harbour climates.

Answer:

(a) Final temperature depends on heat capacities, not just the two temperatures. (b) High specific heat lets the coolant absorb much heat for a small temperature rise. (c) Tyre air warms during driving, increasing pressure. (d) Water has high specific heat, so the sea moderates temperature changes near harbours.

Q.11.4A cylinder with a movable piston contains 3 moles of hydrogen at standard temperature and pressure. The walls of the cylinder are made of a heat insulator, and the piston is insulated by having a pile of sand on it. By what factor does the pressure of the gas increase if the gas is compressed to half its original volume ?v
Solution

The compression is adiabatic because the system is insulated. For hydrogen, a diatomic gas, $\gamma=C_p/C_v=7/5=1.4$. Since $PV^\gamma$ is constant, $P_2/P_1=(V_1/V_2)^\gamma=2^{1.4}=2.64$.

Answer:

By a factor $2^{1.4}\approx2.64$.

Q.11.5In changing the state of a gas adiabatically from an equilibrium state A to another equilibrium state B, an amount of work equal to 22.3 J is done on the system. If the gas is taken from state A to B via a process in which the net heat absorbed by the system is 9.35 cal, how much is the net work done by the system in the latter case ? (Take 1 cal = 4.19 J)v
Solution

For the adiabatic process, $Q=0$ and work done on the system is $22.3\,\text{J}$, so work done by the system is $-22.3\,\text{J}$. From $Q=\Delta U+W$, $\Delta U=22.3\,\text{J}$. Internal energy change is state-dependent only, so it is the same for the second path. Heat absorbed is $9.35\times4.19=39.18\,\text{J}$. Hence $W=Q-\Delta U=39.18-22.3=16.9\,\text{J}$.

Answer:

$16.9\,\text{J}$.

Q.11.6Two cylinders A and B of equal capacity are connected to each other via a stopcock. A contains a gas at standard temperature and pressure. B is completely evacuated. The entire system is thermally insulated. The stopcock is suddenly opened. Answer the following : (a) What is the final pressure of the gas in A and B ? (b) What is the change in internal energy of the gas ? (c) What is the change in the temperature of the gas ? (d) Do the intermediate states of the system (before settling to the final equilibrium state) lie on its P-V-T surface ?v
Solution

This is free expansion into vacuum in an insulated system. No heat is exchanged and no external work is done, so $\Delta U=0$. For an ideal gas, internal energy depends only on temperature, so $\Delta T=0$. The final volume is twice the initial volume at the same temperature, so pressure becomes half. During the sudden expansion the gas is not in thermodynamic equilibrium, so intermediate states are not represented on the equilibrium $P$-$V$-$T$ surface.

Answer:

(a) Final pressure is half the initial pressure, i.e. $0.5\,\text{atm}$, in both cylinders. (b) Zero. (c) Zero for an ideal gas. (d) No.

Q.11.7An electric heater supplies heat to a system at a rate of 100W. If system performs work at a rate of 75 joules per second. At what rate is the internal energy increasing?v
Solution

By the first law, $\dot Q=dU/dt+\dot W$. Therefore $dU/dt=100-75=25\,\text{J s}^{-1}$.

Answer:

$25\,\text{J s}^{-1}$.

Q.11.8A thermodynamic system is taken from an original state to an intermediate state by the linear process shown in Fig. (11.13) Its volume is then reduced to the original value from E to F by an isobaric process. Calculate the total work done by the gas from D to E to Fv
Solution

From the graph, $D=(2.0\,\text{m}^3,600\,\text{N m}^{-2})$, $E=(5.0\,\text{m}^3,300\,\text{N m}^{-2})$, and $F=(2.0\,\text{m}^3,300\,\text{N m}^{-2})$. Work from D to E is the trapezium area: $W_{DE}=\frac{600+300}{2}(5-2)=1350\,\text{J}$. Work from E to F at constant pressure is $W_{EF}=300(2-5)=-900\,\text{J}$. Total work $=1350-900=450\,\text{J}$.

Answer:

$450\,\text{J}$.