Gas Expansions: Monoatomic vs Diatomic - Adiabatic Curve Slope Comparison

P/V curve compared to diatomic gases. This is due to the fact that monoatomic gases have a simpler molecular structure and do not have the extra internal degrees of freedom that diatomic gases have. When plotting the PV graph of an adiabatic expansion, the slope can be either negative or positive, depending on the specific gas and conditions. However, the general relationship between P and V during an adiabatic change involves the ratio of specific heats, gamma, which is equal to the ratio of the heat capacities at constant pressure and constant volume, C_p and C_v, respectively. The slope, or dP/dV, of the graph at a given point can be determined by taking
  • #1
anigeo
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if there are two diabatic expansions of gases A and B and slope of their P/V curve are in this way: slopeA> slopeB then

which gas is monoatomic and which is diatomic?
 
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  • #2
anigeo said:
if there are two diabatic expansions of gases A and B and slope of their P/V curve are in this way: slopeA> slopeB then

which gas is monoatomic and which is diatomic?
If you plot the PV graph of an adiabatic expansion, is the slope negative or positive?

What is the relationship between P and V during an adiabatic change (hint: it involves [itex]\gamma = C_p/C_v[/itex]).

What is dP/dV (slope) of this graph at a given point? (hint: think derivative, dP/dV of the graph).

AM
 
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Related to Gas Expansions: Monoatomic vs Diatomic - Adiabatic Curve Slope Comparison

1. What is the difference between monoatomic and diatomic gases in gas expansions?

Monoatomic gases are made up of single atoms, while diatomic gases are made up of two atoms bonded together. This difference in molecular structure affects their behavior during gas expansions.

2. How do the adiabatic curves for monoatomic and diatomic gases compare?

The adiabatic curves for monoatomic and diatomic gases have different slopes. The slope for monoatomic gases is steeper than that of diatomic gases. This is because the diatomic molecules have more internal degrees of freedom, leading to a slower increase in temperature with expanding volume.

3. Why do monoatomic gases have a steeper adiabatic curve slope?

Monoatomic gases have a simpler molecular structure, with only translational energy contributing to the internal energy of the gas. This means that all the energy from the expanding gas goes into increasing the temperature, resulting in a steeper slope on the adiabatic curve.

4. How does the difference in adiabatic curve slope affect the expansion of monoatomic and diatomic gases?

The steeper slope of the adiabatic curve for monoatomic gases means that they will experience a larger increase in temperature for the same expansion. This also means that they will cool down more quickly when compressed, as the slope will be steeper in the opposite direction.

5. Are there any other factors that affect the adiabatic curve slope for gases?

Yes, there are other factors that can affect the adiabatic curve slope for gases. These include the specific heat capacity of the gas, the number of moles present, and the type of expansion (e.g. isothermal, isobaric, etc.). These factors can alter the slope of the adiabatic curve and should be taken into account when analyzing gas expansions.

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