Theoretical problem 2: The adiabatic piston

A vertical cylinder with adiabatic walls contains argon, considered as an ideal gas (the molar mass
of argon is 𝜇 = 40 g/mol). The gas is contained in the cylinder with the help of an adiabatic piston,
the mass of which is 𝑚 = 0.64 kg. The inner cross-section area of the cylinder is 𝐴 = 80 cm2. The
piston can move without friction inside the cylinder and does not let the gas escape. The air
surrounding the cylinder – piston system is evacuated. Initially, the gas temperature is 𝑇𝑖 = 293 K
and the height at which the piston is in static equilibrium, measured as the height of the gas column
in the cylinder, is 𝑦𝑖 = 1.0 m. The gravitational acceleration is 𝑔 = 9.81 m/s2 and the universal
constant of ideal gases is 𝑅 = 8.315 J mol−1 K −1.

A. Gas parameters in the initial state [0.8 points]

Derive the mathematical expressions and calculate the numerical values for the gas 0.8
A
pressure in the initial equilibrium state and for the mass of argon in the cylinder. points

Solution: The initial pressure of the gas is

𝑚𝑔
𝑝𝑖 = 𝐴
, [0.2 p]

having the numerical value

𝑝𝑖 = 785 Pa ≅ 7.9 ∙ 102 Pa. [0.1 p]

The amount of substance, according to Clapeyron-Mendeleev eq., has the expression

𝑝𝑖 𝑉𝑖 𝜇
𝑚𝐴𝑟 = 𝑅𝑇𝑖
. [0.2 p]

Since

𝑉𝑖 = 𝐴𝑦𝑖 , [0.1 p]

then
𝑚𝑔𝑦𝑖 𝜇
𝑚𝐴𝑟 = 𝑅𝑇𝑖
, [0.1 p]

having the numerical value

𝑚𝐴𝑟 = 1,03 ∙ 10−4 kg ≅ 1,0 ∙ 10−4 kg. [0.1 p]

B. Very small perturbations [2.3 points]

The purpose of this problem is to find out what happens with the gas and the piston after perturbing
the piston. To do this, the piston is suddenly pushed, such that its initial speed 𝑢𝑖 is so much smaller
than the thermal speed 𝑣𝑇𝑖 of the gas in the initial state that their ratio can be neglected.

0.4
B1 Derive the mathematical dependence of the gas temperature 𝑇 of 𝑦.
points

Solution:

Page 1 of 9
Let’s suppose, for fixing the ideas, that the piston moves upwards. The piston moves so slowly that
the gas expansion is quasistatic, so each state the gas passes through is an equilibrium state. For the
quasistatic adiabatic expansion, the Poisson equation is valid:
𝛾−1
𝑇𝑖 𝑉𝑖 = 𝑇𝑉 𝛾−1 , [0.2 p]
or
𝛾−1
𝑇𝑖 𝑦𝑖 = 𝑇𝑦 𝛾−1 . [0.1 p]
Hence
𝑦 2/3
𝑇 = 𝑇𝑖 ( 𝑖) , [0.1 p]
𝑦

because the argon is a monoatomic gas (𝛾 = 5/3).

Note: To prove that the gas obeys the Poisson law under the adopted assumption, let’s write the eq. of motion
for the piston and the 1st law of thermodynamics:
𝑑𝑢 𝑝𝑉 𝑛𝑅𝑇
𝑚 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑚𝑔 = 𝑦
− 𝑚𝑔 = 𝑦
− 𝑚𝑔 (*)

and
𝑚 2
(𝑢 − 𝑢𝑖2 ) + 𝑛𝐶𝑉 (𝑇 − 𝑇𝑖 ) = −𝑚𝑔(𝑦 − 𝑦𝑖 ),
2
which, differentiated, gives
1
𝑚𝑢𝑑𝑢 + 𝑛𝑅𝑑𝑇 = −𝑚𝑔𝑑𝑦,
𝛾−1
or
𝑑𝑢 1 𝑑𝑇
𝑚 =− 𝑛𝑅 − 𝑚𝑔. (**)
𝑑𝑡 𝛾−1 𝑑𝑦

From (*) and (**), it follows that

𝑛𝑅𝑇 1 𝑑𝑇
+ 𝑛𝑅 = 0,
𝑦 𝛾−1 𝑑𝑦
or
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑇
(𝛾 − 1) + = 0,
𝑦 𝑇
which, by integration, gives

𝑇𝑦 𝛾−1 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡.

Derive the equation describing the position of the piston, with respect to the bottom 1.6
B2
of the cylinder, as a function of time, 𝑦(𝑡). points

Solution:

Considering that the piston move upwards, from the eq. of motion of the piston

𝑚𝑎 = 𝑝𝐴 − 𝑚𝑔, [0.2 p]

where

Page 2 of 9
 𝑚𝑔 = 𝑝𝑖 𝐴 [0.1 p]

and from Poisson eq.

𝑦 𝛾 𝑦 𝛾 ∆𝑦 −𝛾 ∆𝑦
𝑝 = 𝑝𝑖 ( 𝑦𝑖) = 𝑝𝑖 (𝑦 +∆𝑦
𝑖
) = 𝑝𝑖 (1 + 𝑦𝑖
) ≅ 𝑝𝑖 (1 − 𝛾 𝑦 ), [0.4 p]
𝑖 𝑖

because the perturbation is very small.

So,
𝛾𝑔
𝑎 = − 𝑦 ∆𝑦, [0.1 p]
𝑖

meaning that the movement of the piston is a harmonic oscillatory one, described by the eq.

𝑦 = 𝑦𝑖 + 𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔0 𝑡 + 𝜑0 ), [0.2 p]

where

𝛾𝑔
𝜔0 = √ 𝑦 , [0.1 p]
𝑖

1 𝛾𝑔
which means that the oscillations frequency is 𝑓0 = √ = 0.64 Hz.
2𝜋 𝑦𝑖

For finding 𝐵 and 𝜑0 , the initial conditions must be used:

𝑦(0) = 𝑦𝑖 and 𝑢(0) = 𝑢𝑖 [2 x 0.1 p]

The results are:

𝜋 𝑢 𝑦
𝜑0 = 2
and 𝐴 = − 𝜔𝑖 = −𝑢𝑖 √𝛾𝑔𝑖 . [2 x 0.1 p]
0

So,

𝑢𝑖 𝛾𝑔
𝑦 = 𝑦𝑖 [1 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (√ 𝑦 𝑡)] . [0.1 p]
√𝛾𝑔𝑦𝑖 𝑖

𝑢𝑖
Note: The ratio cannot be neglected because
√𝛾𝑔𝑦𝑖

1 s
≅ 0.25 .
√𝛾𝑔𝑦𝑖 m

0.3
B3 Calculate the entropy variation of the gas in this process.
points

Solution:

For any quasistatic adiabatic process

∆𝑆 = 0 . [0.3 p]

C. Small perturbations [6.9 points]

The speed 𝑢 of the piston is at least one order of magnitude higher than in the previous part of the
problem, but still much smaller than the thermal speed of the gas. Due to the smallness of the
piston’s speed, there is no turbulence inside the gas. Moreover, it will be considered that the pressure

Page 3 of 9
is not the same everywhere in the gas volume. When the piston moves upwards, for example, a
rarefaction thin layer will appear immediately under the piston. To make a simple model, we will
divide the gas volume in two hydrodynamic regions:
- the rarefaction thin layer, situated immediately under the piston, having the following properties:
▪ its volume (𝛿𝑉) is negligible when compared to the entire gas volume;
▪ the pressure is uniform in the layer, but slightly smaller than in the rest of the gas;
▪ the temperature is the same as in the rest of the gas;
- the rest of the gas in which the pressure and the temperature are those of equilibrium.
During the piston movement, its interaction with the gas, mediated by the hydrodynamic layer
beneath it, has a macroscopic effect: the appearance of a drag force acting on the piston. In this way
the mechanical energy of the piston is degraded into thermal energy and the piston will eventually
stop moving.

Derive the expression for the final position of the piston (𝑦𝑓 ), measured with
1.6
C1 respect to the bottom of the cylinder, as well as for the final temperature of the gas
points
(𝑇𝑓 ). Calculate their numerical values considering 𝑢𝑖 = 5.0 m/s.

Solution:

The 1st law of Thermodynamics has the form

𝑚
2
(𝑢𝑓2 − 𝑢𝑖2 ) + ∆𝑈 = 𝐿𝑒𝑥𝑡 , [0.2 p]

where

𝐿𝑒𝑥𝑡 = −𝑚𝑔(𝑦𝑓 − 𝑦𝑖 ) [0.1 p]

and
3 3
∆𝑈 = 𝑛𝐶𝑉 (𝑇𝑓 − 𝑇𝑖 ) = 2 𝑛𝑅(𝑇𝑓 − 𝑇𝑖 ) = 2 (𝑝𝑓 𝑉𝑓 − 𝑝𝑖 𝑉𝑖 ). [0.3 p]

In the final state

𝑢𝑓 = 0 [0.1 p]

and
𝑚𝑔
𝑝𝑓 = 𝑝𝑖 = 𝐴
, [0.1 p]

so
3 𝑚𝑔 3
∆𝑈 = 2 𝐴
(𝐴𝑦𝑓 − 𝐴𝑦𝑖 ) = 2 𝑚𝑔(𝑦𝑓 − 𝑦𝑖 ). [0.2 p]

As a result,

𝑖 𝑢2
𝑦𝑓 = 𝑦𝑖 [1 + 5𝑔𝑦 ]. [0.1 p]
𝑖

Numerically,

𝑦𝑓 = 1.51 m ≅ 1.5 m. [0.1 p]

Because

Page 4 of 9
 𝑛𝑅𝑇𝑓 𝑛𝑅𝑇𝑖 𝑦𝑓
= → 𝑇𝑓 = 𝑇𝑖 , [0.2 p]
𝑉𝑓 𝑉𝑖 𝑦𝑖

then

𝑢𝑖2
𝑇𝑓 = 𝑇𝑖 [1 + ] . [0.1 p]
5𝑔𝑦𝑖

Numerically,

𝑇𝑓 = 442 K ≅ 440 K. [0.1 p]

Evaluate the variation of entropy in this process ∆𝑆 and calculate its numerical 0.8
C2
value. points

Solution:
𝑇𝑓 𝑉𝑓 3 𝑦𝑓 𝑦𝑓 5 𝑦𝑓
∆𝑆 = 𝑛𝐶𝑉 𝑙𝑛 𝑇 + 𝑛𝑅𝑙𝑛 𝑉 = 2 𝑛𝑅𝑙𝑛 𝑦 + 𝑛𝑅𝑙𝑛 𝑦 = 2 𝑛𝑅𝑙𝑛 𝑦 . [0.4 p]
𝑖 𝑖 𝑖 𝑖 𝑖

Taking into account that

𝑚𝑔
𝑝𝑖 𝑉𝑖 𝐴𝑦𝑖 𝑚𝑔𝑦𝑖
𝐴
𝑛𝑅 = = = [0.2 p]
𝑇𝑖 𝑇𝑖 𝑇𝑖

and that

𝑦𝑓 𝑢𝑖2
=1+ ,
𝑦𝑖 5𝑔𝑦𝑖
then

5 𝑚𝑔𝑦𝑖 𝑢2
∆𝑆 = 𝑙𝑛 [1 + 𝑖 ] . [0.1 p]
2 𝑇𝑖 5𝑔𝑦𝑖

Numerically,

∆𝑆 = 2.2 ∙ 10−2 J/K. [0.1 p]

The strong inequality 𝑢 ≪ 𝑣𝑇 means that the integer powers greater than one of the ratio 𝑢/𝑣𝑇 can
be neglected.

Evaluate the actual pressure 𝑝∗ in the gas layer beneath the piston during its 1.6
C3
movement upwards. points

Solution:
The requested pressure is
〈𝐹〉
𝑝∗ = 𝐴
, [0.1 p]
where the average force with which the atoms act on the piston is
𝛿𝑁∙∆𝑝
〈𝐹〉 = . [0.1 p]
𝛿𝑡
Here, 𝛿𝑡 is a very short time interval, such that the speed 𝑢 of the piston keeps its value, ∆𝑝 is the
momentum variation of one atom during one elastic collision with the piston, and 𝛿𝑁 is the number
of collisions with the piston in the above time interval.

Page 5 of 9
To evaluate 𝛿𝑁, we should consider that half of the atoms move in the same direction with the piston
(Joule’s hypothesis) and that the relative speed of an atom with respect to the piston is 𝑣 − 𝑢, where
it was supposed that 𝑢 and 𝑣 have the same direction. So,
1𝑁
𝛿𝑁 = 𝐴(𝑣 − 𝑢)𝛿𝑡. [0.3 p]
2𝑉
Since the atom’s speed after the collision with the piston is
𝑣 ′ = 𝑣 − 2𝑢,
With respect to the cylinder, then, its momentum variation is
∆𝑝 = 2𝑚0 (𝑣 − 𝑢), [0.1 p]
where 𝑚0 is the mass of one atom.
Under these conditions,
1𝑁 𝑁 𝑁 𝑢 2
〈𝐹〉 = 〈 𝐴(𝑣 − 𝑢)2𝑚0 (𝑣 − 𝑢)〉 = 𝑚0 𝐴〈(𝑣 − 𝑢)2 〉 = 𝑚0 𝐴 〈𝑣 2 (1 − ) 〉 ≅
2𝑉 𝑉 𝑉 𝑣
𝑁 2 𝑢 𝑁 2〉
≅ 𝑚0 𝑉 𝐴 〈𝑣 (1 − 2 𝑣 )〉 = 𝑚0 𝑉 𝐴(〈𝑣 − 2𝑢〈𝑣〉), [0.2 p]
𝑅𝑇 2𝑅𝑇
Since 〈𝑣 2 〉 = 𝜇
and 〈𝑣〉 = √ 𝜋𝜇 , then

𝑁 𝑅𝑇 2𝑅𝑇 𝑁 𝑅𝑇 2𝜇 𝑚𝐴𝑟 𝑅𝑇 2𝜇
𝑝∗ = 𝑚0 𝑉 ( 𝜇 − 2𝑢√ 𝜋𝜇 ) = 𝑚0 𝑉 𝜇
(1 − 2𝑢√𝜋𝑅𝑇) = 𝜇 𝑉
(1 − 2𝑢√𝜋𝑅𝑇). [0.2 p]

Because
𝑚𝐴𝑟
𝑅𝑇 = 𝑝∗ 𝛿𝑉 + 𝑝(𝑉 − 𝛿𝑉) = 𝑝𝑉 − (𝑝 − 𝑝∗ )𝛿𝑉 = 𝑝𝑉 − 𝛿𝑝𝛿𝑉 ≅ 𝑝𝑉, [0.5 p]
𝜇
then
2𝜇 6 𝑢
𝑝∗ = 𝑝 (1 − 2𝑢√ ) = 𝑝 (1 − 2√ ). [0.1 p]
𝜋𝑅𝑇 𝜋 𝑣𝑇

An exact analysis of the gas and the piston dynamics imply the simultaneous solution of two coupled
nonlinear differential equations, a task possible only with the help of a computer. However, the
problem can be solved analytically in the asymptotic approximation, that is by analyzing the final
stage of the piston movement, when 𝑦 = 𝑦𝑓 + 𝑧, 𝑧 ≪ 𝑦𝑓 . The physical significance of 𝑦 and 𝑦𝑓 are
𝑚𝑢2
those from above. Also, in the final stage of the dynamics, 2
𝑚𝐴𝑟 𝑣𝑇𝑓
can be neglected because 𝑢 ≪ 𝑢𝑖 ,

𝑚𝐴𝑟
even if initially, 𝑢𝑖 ≲ √ 𝑣𝑇𝑖 .
𝑚

Prove that, in the final stage, the movement of the piston is an oscillatory one with
2.4
C4 damping. Derive the mathematical expression and calculate the numerical value of
points
these oscillations’ pseudoperiod.

Solution:

The equation of motion for the piston is

𝑝∗ 𝑉 𝑚𝐴𝑟 𝑅𝑇 2𝜇
𝑚𝑎 = 𝑝∗ 𝐴 − 𝑚𝑔 = 𝑦
− 𝑚𝑔 = 𝜇𝑦
(1 − 2𝑢√𝜋𝑅𝑇) − 𝑚𝑔, [0.2 p]

or

𝑚𝐴𝑟 𝑅𝑇 2𝜇
𝑎= 𝜇𝑚𝑦
(1 − 2𝑢√𝜋𝑅𝑇) − 𝑔. [0.1 p]

Page 6 of 9
The motion of the piston is damped because the gas pressure in the adjacent layer and, consequently,
the force acting on the piston, has a drag component proportional with the piston’s speed (and also
with the gas temperature, making the force a little more complicated)!
The gas temperature close to the final state of the system can be found from the energy balance:

𝑚
(𝑢𝑓2
2 ⏟
− 𝑢2 ) + 𝑛𝐶𝑉 (𝑇𝑓 − 𝑇) = −𝑚𝑔(𝑦𝑓 − 𝑦), [0.1 p]
=0

or, because 𝐶𝑉 = 3𝑅/2,

𝑚𝑢2 2𝑚𝑔𝑧 𝑚𝑢2 2𝑝𝑓 𝐴𝑧
𝑇 = 𝑇𝑓 (1 − − ) = 𝑇𝑓 (1 − 2 − ). [0.2 p]
3𝑛𝑅𝑇𝑓 3𝑛𝑅𝑇𝑓 𝑚𝐴𝑟 𝑣𝑇𝑓 3𝑝𝑓 𝑉𝑓

𝑚𝑢2
Neglecting the ratio 𝑚 2 as was stated in the text,
𝐴𝑟 𝑣𝑇𝑓

2 𝑧
𝑇 ≅ 𝑇𝑓 (1 − ). [0.1 p]
3 𝑦𝑓

Because
1
−
2𝜇 2𝜇 2𝑧 2 6 𝑢 1𝑧 6 𝑢 1 𝑢 𝑧 6 𝑢
𝑢√ = 𝑢√ (1 − ) ≅√ (1 + )=√ ( + )≅√ ,
𝜋𝑅𝑇 𝜋𝑅𝑇𝑓 3 𝑦𝑓 𝜋 𝑣𝑇𝑓 3 𝑦𝑓 𝜋 𝑣𝑇𝑓 3 𝑣𝑇𝑓 𝑦𝑓 𝜋 𝑣𝑇𝑓

or

2𝜇 6 𝑢
𝑢√𝜋𝑅𝑇 ≅ √𝜋 𝑣 , [0.4 p]
𝑇𝑓

then
2𝑧
𝑚𝐴𝑟 𝑅𝑇𝑓 (1 − )
3 𝑦𝑓 6 𝑢
𝑎≅ (1 − 2√ )−𝑔 =
𝑧 𝜋 𝑣𝑇𝑓
𝜇𝑚𝑦𝑓 (1 + 𝑦 )
𝑓

−1
2 𝑧 𝑧 6 𝑢
= 𝑔 (1 − 3 𝑦 ) (1 + 𝑦 ) (1 − 2√𝜋 𝑣 ) − 𝑔, [0.2 p]
𝑓 𝑓 𝑇𝑓

or

2𝑧 𝑧 6 𝑢 5𝑧 6 𝑢
𝑎 ≅ 𝑔 (1 − ) (1 − ) (1 − 2√ ) − 𝑔 ≅ 𝑔 (1 − ) (1 − 2√ )−𝑔 ≅
3 𝑦𝑓 𝑦𝑓 𝜋 𝑣𝑇𝑓 3 𝑦𝑓 𝜋 𝑣𝑇𝑓

𝑧 6 𝑢 𝑧 6 𝑢
≅ 𝑔 (1 − 𝛾 𝑦 − 2√𝜋 𝑣 ) − 𝑔 = −𝑔𝛾 𝑦 − 2𝑔√𝜋 𝑣 = −𝜔12 𝑧 − 2𝛿𝑢. [0.4 p]
𝑓 𝑇𝑓 𝑓 𝑇𝑓

This is the eq. of a damped oscillator, with the natural angular frequency
𝛾𝑔
𝜔1 = √ 𝑦 [0.1 p]
𝑓

and the damping coefficient

6 𝑔 2𝜇 𝐴𝑟 2𝑚 𝑔
𝛿 = √𝜋 𝑣 = 𝑔√𝜋𝑅𝑇 = √ 𝜋𝑚𝑦 . [0.1 p]
𝑇𝑓 𝑓 𝑓

Page 7 of 9
In conclusion, the oscillation natural frequency of the piston in its final stage of movement is

1 𝛾𝑔
𝑓1 = √ ,
2𝜋 𝑦𝑓

having the numerical value

𝑓1 = 0.524 Hz ≅ 0.52 Hz,

while that of the damping coefficient is

𝛿 = 2.58 ∙ 10−2 s −1 ≅ 2.6 ∙ 10−2 s−1.

The angular pseudofrequency is

𝑔 2𝑚𝐴𝑟
𝜔1′ = √𝜔12 − 𝛿 2 = √𝑦 (𝛾 − 𝜋𝑚
), [0.2 p]
𝑓

so, the pseudoperiod is

𝑦𝑓
𝑇1′ = 2𝜋√ 2𝑚𝐴𝑟 , [0.2 p]
𝑔(𝛾− )
𝜋𝑚

having the numerical value

𝑇1′ = 1.91 s ≅ 1.9 s. [0.1 p]

How long does it take for the piston to stop moving? For this evaluation, express
the relaxation time for the piston’s oscillations and calculate the numerical value of
0.5
C5 damped oscillations lifetime, 𝜏𝑡𝑜𝑡 , knowing that it is considered to be five times the
points
relaxation time. Also, calculate the number 𝑁 of oscillations effectuated by the
piston in this time.

Solution:

Since

1 𝜋𝑚𝑦𝑓
𝜏 = 𝛿 = √2𝑚 , [0.2 p]
𝐴𝑟 𝑔

Then the oscillations lifetime is

𝜏𝑡𝑜𝑡 = 5𝜏 = 194 s ≅ 190 s. [0.1 p]

The number of oscillations is

𝜏𝑡𝑜𝑡
𝑁= = 101 ≅ 100. [2 x 0.1 p]
𝑇1′

Notes:
1. For an ideal gas, the mean values for the gas speed 𝑣, respectively 𝑣 2 , in the direction of the piston velocity,
are
2𝑅𝑇 𝑅𝑇
〈𝑣〉 = √
𝜋𝜇
, respectively 〈𝑣 2 〉 = 𝜇
.

2. If needed, the following approximation formula can be used:

(1 + 𝑥)𝑛 ≅ 1 + 𝑛𝑥, 𝑖𝑓 |𝑥| ≪ 1.
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 problem proposed by
Assoc. Prof. Sebastian POPESCU, PhD
Faculty of Physics, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania

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