AIN SHAMS UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
i-CREDIT HOURS ENGINEERING PROGRAMS
COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS ENGINEERING PROGRAM

Spring 2025 Course Code: PHM 223 Deadline: 26 April @ 11:59 pm

The Task consists of Five questions in Three pages 10 marks
Thermal and Statistical Physics

Answer the following questions:

Gas Laws and Molecular Theory of Gases:

Q1. A 0.5 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 sample of 𝑂2 gas is in a large cylinder with a movable piston on one end so it can be
compressed. The initial volume is large enough that there is not a significant difference between the
pressure given by the ideal gas law and that given by the Van der Waals equation. As the gas is slowly
compressed at constant temperature (300 K), at what volume does the Van der Waals equation give a
pressure that is 5% different than the ideal gas law pressure? Let 𝑎 = 0.14 𝑁. 𝑚4 /𝑚𝑜𝑙 2 and 𝑏 =
3.2 × 10−5 𝑚3 /𝑚𝑜𝑙.

Laws of Thermodynamics

Q2. In an industrial process the volume of 25.0 𝑚𝑜𝑙 of a monatomic ideal gas is reduced at a uniform rate
from 0.616 𝑚3 to 0.308 𝑚3 in 2.00 ℎ while its temperature is increased at a uniform rate from 27.0 ℃
to 450 ℃. Throughout the process, the gas passes through thermodynamic equilibrium states. What are
a) the cumulative work done on the gas,
b) the cumulative energy absorbed by the gas as heat, and
c) the molar specific heat for the process? (Hint: To evaluate the integral for the work, you might
use
𝑎 + 𝑏𝑥 𝑏𝑥 𝑎𝐵 − 𝑏𝐴
∫ 𝑑𝑥 = + ln(𝐴 + 𝐵𝑥)
𝐴 + 𝐵𝑥 𝐵 𝐵2

an indefinite integral.)
Suppose the process is replaced with a two-step process that reaches the same final state. In step 1, the
gas volume is reduced at constant temperature, and in step 2 the temperature is increased at constant
volume. For this process, what are
d) the cumulative work done on the gas,
e) the cumulative energy absorbed by the gas as heat, and (f) the molar specific heat for the
process?

Q3. You are conducting experiments to study prototype heat engines. In one
test, 4.00 𝑚𝑜𝑙 of argon gas are taken around the cycle shown in the figure.
The pressure is low enough for the gas to be treated as ideal. You measure
the gas temperature in states 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, and 𝑑 and find 𝑇𝑎 = 250.0 𝐾, 𝑇𝑏 =
300.0 𝐾, 𝑇𝑐 = 380.0 𝐾, and 𝑇𝑑 = 316.7 𝐾.
a) Calculate the efficiency 𝑒 of the cycle.
b) Disappointed by the cycle’s low efficiency, you consider doubling
the number of moles of gas while keeping the pressure and volume
the same. What would 𝑒 be then?
c) You remember that the efficiency of a Carnot cycle increases if the temperature of the hot
reservoir is increased. So, you return to using 4.00 𝑚𝑜𝑙 of gas but double the volume in states 𝑐
and 𝑑 while keeping the pressures the same. The resulting temperatures in these states are 𝑇𝑐 =
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 AIN SHAMS UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
i-CREDIT HOURS ENGINEERING PROGRAMS - Communications Systems Engineering Program
Spring 2025 Course Code: PHM 223
Thermal and Statistical Physics
The Task consists of Five questions in Three pages

760.0 𝐾 and 𝑇𝑑 = 633.4 𝐾. 𝑇𝑎 and 𝑇𝑏 remain the same as in part a). Calculate 𝑒 for this cycle
with the new 𝑇𝑐 and 𝑇𝑑 values.
d) Encouraged by the increase in efficiency, you raise 𝑇𝑐 and 𝑇𝑑 still further. But 𝑒 doesn’t increase
very much; it seems to be approaching a limiting value. If 𝑇𝑎 = 250.0 𝐾 and 𝑇𝑏 = 300.0 𝐾 and
you keep volumes 𝑉𝑎 and 𝑉𝑏 the same as in part a), then 𝑇𝑐 > 𝑇𝑑 = 𝑇𝑏 > 𝑇𝑎 and 𝑇𝑐 = 1.20𝑇𝑑 .
Derive an expression for 𝑒 as a function of 𝑇𝑑 for this cycle. What value does 𝑒 approach as 𝑇𝑑
becomes very large?

Q4. A common practical cycle is the Brayton cycle, which involves (1) an adiabatic compression, (2) an isobaric
(constant pressure) expansion, (3) an adiabatic expansion, and (4) an isobaric compression back to the
original state. Assume the system begins the adiabatic compression at temperature 𝑇1 and transitions to
temperatures 𝑇2 , 𝑇3 and 𝑇4 after each leg of the cycle.
a) Sketch this cycle on a 𝑃𝑉 diagram.
b) Show that the efficiency of the overall cycle is given by,

𝑇4 − 𝑇1
𝜂 =1−
𝑇3 − 𝑇2

c) Show that this efficiency, can be written as,

1−𝛾
( )
𝜂 = 1−𝑟 𝛾
where is 𝑟 the pressure ratio 𝑃ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ /𝑃𝑙𝑜𝑤 (the ratio of the maximum and minimum pressures in
the cycle).
Now, suppose the Brayton cycle engine is run in reverse as a refrigerator. In this case, the cycle begins at
temperature 𝑇1 and expands at constant pressure until its temperature is 𝑇4 . Then the gas is adiabatically
compressed until its temperature is 𝑇3 and then it is compressed at constant pressure, until its
temperature is 𝑇2 . Finally, it adiabatically expands until it returns to its initial state at temperature 𝑇1 .

d) Sketch this cycle on a diagram.

e) Show that the coefficient of performance, is

𝑇4 − 𝑇1
𝐶𝑂𝑃 =
𝑇3 − 𝑇2 − 𝑇4 + 𝑇1

Suppose your “Brayton cycle refrigerator” is run as follows. The cylinder containing the refrigerant (a
monatomic gas) has an initial volume and pressure of 60 𝑚𝐿 and 1 𝑎𝑡𝑚. After the expansion at constant
pressure, the volume and temperature are 75 𝑚𝐿 and -25℃. The pressure ratio 𝑟 for the cycle is 5.

f) What is the coefficient of performance for your refrigerator?

g) To absorb heat from the food compartment at the rate of 120 𝑊, what is the rate at which
electrical energy must be supplied to the motor of this refrigerator?
h) Assuming the refrigerator motor is running for only 4 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 each day, how much does it add to
your monthly electric bill. Assume 1 𝐸𝐺𝑃 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑘𝑊ℎ of electric energy and 30 days in a month.

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 AIN SHAMS UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
i-CREDIT HOURS ENGINEERING PROGRAMS - Communications Systems Engineering Program
Spring 2025 Course Code: PHM 223
Thermal and Statistical Physics
The Task consists of Five questions in Three pages

Heat Capacity of Solids:

Q5. Throughout the lectures of our course, we have noted that all metals have approximately equal molar
specific heat. Most solids have molar heat capacities approximately equal to 3𝑅 where 𝑅 is the universal
gas constant. This result is known as the Dulong–Petit law.

a) Discuss the history of this law and Boltzmann interpretation for it. Also, check its validity and
limitations (Diamond can be investigated as an example). Use diagrams to illustrate your
explanation wherever is needed.

Due to the limitations of the Dulong–Petit law discussed in part a), Einstein followed by Debye introduced
a model for crystalline solids in which they dealt with the atoms quantum mechanically rather than just
classical harmonic oscillators.

b) Write a brief qualitative explanation for Einstein and Debye’s theories for specific heat of solids.
This lecture might be useful,
https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/01-introduction-condensed-matter-einstein-model-vibrations-solids

According to the Einstein model of a crystalline solid, the internal energy per mole is given by,

−1
𝑈 = 3𝑁𝐴 𝑘𝑇𝐸 (𝑒 𝑇𝐸 ⁄𝑇 − 1)

Where 𝑇𝐸 is a characteristic temperature called the Einstein temperature and 𝑇 is the temperature of
the solid in kelvins.

c) Use the above expression to show that a crystalline solid’s molar heat capacity at constant
volume is given by,
𝑇𝐸 2 𝑒 𝑇𝐸 ⁄𝑇
𝑐𝑣 = 3𝑅 ( )
𝑇 (𝑒 𝑇𝐸 ⁄𝑇 − 1)2

d) Use the results of part c) to show that in the limit that 𝑇 ≫ 𝑇𝐸 the Einstein model gives the same
expression for specific heat that the Dulong-Petit law does.

e) Use the results of the Einstein model in part c) to determine the molar internal energy of
diamond (𝑇𝐸 is approximately 1060 𝐾) at 300 K and 600 K, and thereby the increase in internal
energy as diamond is heated from 300 K to 600 K. Compare your result to that of part d).

General Instructions:
1- This is an individual task; group submissions are not allowed.
2- Plagiarism will not be tolerated.
3- A cover page and marking scheme page will be released soon that SHOULD be used by all students.
4- Question 5 - parts a and b should be written using Microsoft Word, then saved as a .pdf file. (HAND-WRITTEN
ANSWERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR THESE 2 PARTS). This pdf is then combined with answers to the
remaining questions in one file.
5- References for your answer to questions 5a and 5b should be added.
6- Optionally, you might be required to present your submission. In this case you will be directly contacted by me to schedule
a discussion session

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 AIN SHAMS UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
i-CREDIT HOURS ENGINEERING PROGRAMS - Communications Systems Engineering Program
Spring 2025 Course Code: PHM 223
Thermal and Statistical Physics
The Task consists of Five questions in Three pages

Marking Scheme:

Maximum
Question Description
score
1- Gas Laws and Molecular Theory of
One requirement only 10 %
Gases
Five requirements equally
2- Laws of Thermodynamics 15 %
weighted (3% each)
Part a) weighs 3%
Part b) weighs 3%
3- Laws of Thermodynamics 15 %
Part c) weighs 4%
Part d) weighs 5%
8 parts divided as follows:
All parts are equally weighted,
4- Laws of Thermodynamics each represents 3% of the whole 30%
task EXCEPT parts b), c) and e)
each weighs 5%.
5 parts divided as follows:
Parts a) and b), each weigh 9%
5- Specific Heat Capacity of Solids 30%
Parts c), d) and e) each weighs
4%
Total 100%

The total assignment score will be scaled to a maximum of 10 marks.

Best of Luck
Dr. Dalia Selim