What is the Relationship Between Heat Energy and Temperature?

[tavrion]

Homework Statement

Show that the heat energy per unit mass necessary to raise the temperature of a thin slice of thickness [itex]\Delta[/itex]x from [itex]0^o{}[/itex] to [itex]u(x,t)[/itex] is not [itex]c(x)u(x,t)[/itex]. but instead [itex]\int_0^uc(x,\overline{u})d\overline{u}[/itex].

Homework Equations

According to the text, the relationship between thermal energy and temperature is given by

[itex]e(x,t) = c(x)p(x)u(x,t)[/itex],

which states that the thermal energy per unit volume equals the thermal energy per unit mass per unit degree times the temperature time the mass density.

When the specific heat [itex]c(x)[/itex] is independent of temperature, the heat energy per unit mass is just [itex]c(x)u(x,t)[/itex].

The Attempt at a Solution

The only hint really is that this is related to the area, from the solution. How can I go about this geometrically and/or algebraically?

Any help/pointers will be much appreciated. Thank you!

 

[lanedance]

that integral doesn't make sense based on what you've posted, can you check it... c has changed to a function of x only or x and u (position and temperature)...?

 

[lanedance]

so i think you do need to assume c = c(x,u), then try and find the change in energy de, for a small change in temp du and integrate.

 

[tavrion]

Argh of course! Thank you very much!

 

[tavrion]

I have used your advice and went about it in the following way:

For a small slice of thickness [itex]\Delta{x}[/itex] a small change in energy will be given by

[itex]de = c(x,u)du[/itex]

Dividing by [itex]du[/itex] I obtain [itex]e_{u} = c(x,u)[/itex].

From the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, this really says that

[itex]e(x,t) = \int_0^uc(x,t)dt[/itex].

Am I correct in my thinking? It feels a bit messy somehow...

 

[lanedance]

you can just start from differentials
[tex] de = c(x,u)du [/tex]
[tex] \delta e = \int_{e_0}^{e_f}d\bar{e} = \int_{0}^{u} c(x,\bar{u})d\bar{u} [/tex]

 

[tavrion]

Your equation did not even occur to me but simplifies it a lot. Thank you very much for your help. I can now get some sleep again :-)