Does Heating a Gas Under Constant Pressure or Volume Affect Its Internal Energy?

In summary, the internal energy of two identical volumes of gas heated to 100 C, one under constant pressure and one under constant volume, will be the same. This is because the extra heat required for the constant pressure sample to do expansion is lost as work, but the final internal energies should be the same due to the same number of particles and temperature.
  • #1
Alvine
7
0
Homework Statement
I have two identical volumes of gas, and I heat them both to 100 C, one under constant pressure, one under constant volume. Which has more internal energy after the process?



The attempt at a solution
I believe that they both have the same as the extra heat you have to put into the system at constant pressure to do the expansion is lost as work. But is it more complicated than this as T is changing?

Thanks
 
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  • #2
I think you're right. The internal energy of an ideal gas is just 3NkT/2, so since the two samples have the same N and the same T after heating them, they have the same internal energy. As you say, you have to put more heat into the constant pressure sample to source the PdV work, but the final internal energies should be the same.
 

Related to Does Heating a Gas Under Constant Pressure or Volume Affect Its Internal Energy?

1. What is internal energy?

Internal energy is the total potential and kinetic energy stored within the particles of a substance. It includes the energy of the particles' motion, vibration, and rotation, as well as the energy of their interactions with each other.

2. How is internal energy affected by heating?

When a substance is heated, the temperature of its particles increases, causing them to move faster and collide with each other more frequently. This results in an increase in the internal energy of the substance.

3. Does the internal energy of a substance always increase when heated?

No, the internal energy of a substance can also decrease when heated. This can happen if the substance undergoes a phase change, such as melting or vaporization, where energy is used to break the bonds between particles instead of increasing their motion.

4. How is the internal energy of a substance measured?

The internal energy of a substance is typically measured in joules (J) or kilojoules (kJ). It can be determined using various methods, such as calorimetry, where the change in temperature of a substance is measured as it absorbs or releases heat.

5. What is the relationship between internal energy and temperature?

Internal energy and temperature are directly proportional to each other. As the temperature of a substance increases, so does its internal energy, and vice versa. However, the relationship is not linear and can vary depending on the substance and its physical state.

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