Energy and Entropy: Fall-2024
HW8 (updated 5:23pm 10/28) (SOLUTION): Due Day 25 Tues 10/29

  1. Using Gibbs Free Energy S1 5146S You are given the following Gibbs free energy: \begin{equation*} G=-k T N \ln \left(\frac{a T^{5 / 2}}{p}\right), \end{equation*} where \(a\) is a constant (whose dimensions make the argument of the logarithm dimensionless).
    1. Compute the entropy.

      Remembering that \(dG=-SdT+Vdp\), we can identify: \begin{equation*} S=-\left(\frac{\partial G}{\partial T}\right)_{p}=k N \ln \left(\frac{a T^{5 / 2}}{p}\right)+\frac{5}{2} k N \end{equation*}

    2. Work out the heat capacity at constant pressure \(C_p\).

      \begin{equation} C_{p}=\left(\frac{\partial {H}}{\partial {T}}\right)_{p}=T\left(\frac{\partial S}{\partial T}\right)_{p}=T N K \frac{p}{a T^{5 / 2}} \frac{a}{p} \frac{5}{2} T^{3 / 2}=\frac{5}{2} N k \end{equation}

    3. Find the connection among \(V\), \(p\), \(N\), and \(T\), which is called the equation of state (Hint: find the volume as a partial derivative of the Gibbs free energy). Simplify the final expression as much as possible.

      Using the Gibbs differential in part a) (\(dG=-SdT+Vdp\)) we have: \begin{equation*} V=\left(\frac{\partial G}{\partial p}\right)_{T}=-k T N \frac{p}{a T^{5 / 2}}\left( \frac{-a T^{5 / 2}}{p^{2}} \right) = N k \frac{T}{p} \end{equation*} rearranging: \begin{equation*} p V=N k T \end{equation*} And our system is an ideal gas.

    4. Find the internal energy \(U\) from the expression for \(G\) that you were given in the main prompt. Simplify the final expression as much as possible.

      To compute \(U\) we remember that \(G=U+pV-TS\) which implies \(U=G-pV+TS\): \begin{equation*} U=G-p V+T S=-N k T \ln \left(\frac{a T^{5 / 2}}{p}\right)-N k T+N k T \ln \left(\frac{a T^{5 / 2}}{p}\right)+\frac{5}{2} N k T=\frac{3}{2} N k T \end{equation*}

  2. Ideal gas internal energy S1 5146S In this problem, you will prove that the internal energy of an ideal gas depends on temperature, but not on volume, based soley on the ideal gas equation: \begin{align} pV &= Nk_BT \end{align} and of course your knowledge of thermodynamics. It's a pretty tricky proof, so I'll step you through it.
    1. To begin with, use the Helmholtz free energy \(F=U-TS\) to show that \begin{align} \left(\frac{\partial {U}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T} &= -p + T\left(\frac{\partial {S}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T} \end{align} for any material.
      This first step suggests we use the Helmholtz free energy \begin{align} dF &= -SdT -pdV \end{align} This means that the pressure is given by \begin{align} -p &= \left(\frac{\partial {F}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T} \\ &= \left(\frac{\partial {U-TS}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T} \\ &= \left(\frac{\partial {U}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T} - T\left(\frac{\partial {S}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T} \end{align} and reordering this gives the equation we were supposed to prove. Note that this is not the only way you could have proven this, just the most straightforward.
    2. Now show that for any material \begin{align} \left(\frac{\partial {S}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T} &= \left(\frac{\partial {p}}{\partial {T}}\right)_{V}. \end{align}
      This smells like a Maxwell relation, because it involves terms that are “balanced downstairs” with respect to \(V\) and \(T\). And indeed we can see from the total differential of \(F\) that \begin{align} \left(\frac{\partial {S}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T} &= -\left(\frac{\partial {\left(\frac{\partial {F}}{\partial {T}}\right)_{V}}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T} \\ &= -\left(\frac{\partial {\left(\frac{\partial {F}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T}}}{\partial {T}}\right)_{V} \\ &= \left(\frac{\partial {p}}{\partial {T}}\right)_{V} \end{align} Indeed the equation we were asked to show was just a Maxwell relation. So we've still not assumed an ideal gas.
    3. Finally, show that for an ideal gas \begin{align} \left(\frac{\partial {U}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T} &= 0. \end{align} Remember that the only statement we can assume about the ideal gas is \(pV=Nk_BT\). We have not been given an expression for \(U\).
      We've been given a couple of very strong hints. So lets put them together: \begin{align} \left(\frac{\partial {U}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T} &= -p + T\left(\frac{\partial {S}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T} \\ &= -p + T\left(\frac{\partial {p}}{\partial {T}}\right)_{V} \\ &= -p + T\frac{Nk_B}{V}\label{eq:use-ideal-gas-law} \\ &= 0 \end{align} where in Eq. \ref{eq:use-ideal-gas-law} we use the ideal gas law to compute the derivative. You can see that this result, in which \(U\) depends on temperature but not volume, relies on the pressure being strictly proportional to temperature. In practice, the only family of systems I know of for which I know this to be true are the ideal gas.
  3. Non-Ideal Gas S1 5146S

    The equation of state of a gas that departs from ideality can be approximated by \[ p=\frac{NkT}{V}\left(1+\frac{NB_{2}(T)}{V}\right), \] where \(B_{2}\) is called the second virial coefficient. \(B_{2}\) is a function of \(T\), so it is usually written as \(B_{2}(T)\). The function \(B_{2}(T)\) increases monotonically with temperature. Find \(\left(\frac{\partial {U}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T}\) and determine its sign.

    We are given the pressure, so we should first ask ourselves what we know about the pressure. We know that \begin{align} dU &= TdS - pdV \end{align} and therefore \begin{align} p &= -\left(\frac{\partial {U}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{S} \end{align} Unfortunately, we are asked about \(\left(\frac{\partial {U}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T}\), which is something quite different. We could also consider the Helmholtz free energy, which gives a second definition of pressure: \begin{align} F &= U - TS \\ dF &= -SdT - pdV \\ p &= -\left(\frac{\partial {F}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T} \\ &= -\left(\frac{\partial {U}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T} + T \left(\frac{\partial {S}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T} \\ \left(\frac{\partial {U}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T} &= T \left(\frac{\partial {S}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T} - p \end{align} This would be great, if we could only find this particular derivative of the entropy. Fortunately, when we examine the total differential of the Helmholtz free energy, we can see that this particular derivative of the entropy is part of a Maxwell relation! \begin{align} \left(\frac{\partial {S}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T} &= \left(\frac{\partial {-\left(\frac{\partial {F}}{\partial {T}}\right)_{V}}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T} \\ &= \left(\frac{\partial {-\left(\frac{\partial {F}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T}}}{\partial {T}}\right)_{V} \\ &= \left(\frac{\partial {p}}{\partial {T}}\right)_{V} \\ &= \frac{Nk}{V}\left(1 + \frac{NB_2(T)}{V}\right) + \frac{N^2kT}{V^2} \frac{dB_2}{dT} \\ &= \frac{p}{T} + \frac{N^2kT}{V^2} \frac{dB_2}{dT} \\ \end{align} Putting these together, we find that \begin{align} \left(\frac{\partial {U}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T} &= T \left(\frac{\partial {S}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T} - p \\ &= T\left(\frac{p}{T} + \frac{N^2kT}{V^2} \frac{dB_2}{dT}\right) - p \\ &= \frac{N^2kT^2}{V^2} \frac{dB_2}{dT} \end{align} Since we are told that \(B_2(T)\) is a monotonically increasing function, its slope is always positive, and the internal energy increases as we increase the volume at fixed temperature. i.e. \begin{align} \left(\frac{\partial {U}}{\partial {V}}\right)_{T} \ge 0 \end{align}

  4. Plastic Rod S1 5146S When stretched to a length \(L\) the tension force \(\tau\) in a plastic rod at temperature \(T\) is given by its Equation of State \begin{equation*} \tau = a T^{2} (L - L_{o}) \end{equation*} where \(a\) is a positive constant and \(L_{o}\) is the rod's unstretched length. For an unstretched rod (i.e. \(L = L_{o}\)) the heat capacity at constant length is \(C_{L}=bT\) where \(b\) is a constant. Knowing the internal energy at \(T_{o}, L_{o}\) (i.e. \(U(T_{o},L_{o})\)) find the internal energy \(U(T_{f},L_{f})\) at some other temperature \(T_{f}\) and length \(L_{f}\).
    1. (1 point) Write an expression for the exact differential \(dU\) in terms of \(dT\) and \(dL\) (we've been calling this type of expression an “overlord equation”).

      \begin{align} dU &= \left(\frac{\partial {U}}{\partial {T}}\right)_{L}dT + \left(\frac{\partial {U}}{\partial {L}}\right)_{T}dL \end{align}

    2. Show that the partial derivative \((\partial U / \partial L)_{T} = -aT^{2}(L-L_{o})\).

      For a derivative at constant \(T\), we will want to compare with the free energy, since it is naturally a function of \(T\) and \(L\) \begin{align} F &= U - TS \\ dF &= -SdT + \tau dL. \end{align} Since \(\tau\) is the coefficient in front of \(dL\), \begin{align} \tau &= \left(\frac{\partial {F}}{\partial {L}}\right)_{T}, \\ &= \left(\frac{\partial {U}}{\partial {L}}\right)_{T} - T\left(\frac{\partial {S}}{\partial {L}}\right)_{T}\label{eq:has-dUdLT}, \end{align} which gets us close to finding the derivative we are seeking.

      Equation \ref{eq:has-dUdLT} has a derivative of entropy that is a bit inconvenient (since we have no expression for entropy). But we can simplify it by identifying the Maxwell relation that comes from the Helmholtz free energy: \begin{align} -\left(\frac{\partial {S}}{\partial {L}}\right)_{T} &= \left(\frac{\partial {\left(\frac{\partial {F}}{\partial {T}}\right)_{L}}}{\partial {L}}\right)_{T} \\ &= \left(\frac{\partial {\left(\frac{\partial {F}}{\partial {L}}\right)_{T}}}{\partial {T}}\right)_{L} \\ &= \left(\frac{\partial {\tau}}{\partial {T}}\right)_{L} \end{align} So now we can plug this into Eq. \ref{eq:has-dUdLT} to find \begin{align} \tau &= \left(\frac{\partial {U}}{\partial {L}}\right)_{T} + T\left(\frac{\partial {\tau}}{\partial {T}}\right)_{L} \\ \left(\frac{\partial {U}}{\partial {L}}\right)_{T} &= \tau - T\left(\frac{\partial {\tau}}{\partial {T}}\right)_{L} \\ &= a T^{2} (L - L_{o}) - T\left(2 a T (L - L_{o})\right) \\ &= - a T^{2} (L - L_{o}) \end{align}

    3. Integrate \(dU\) very carefully in the \(T-L\) plane, keeping in mind that \(C_{L} = bT\) holds only at \(L=L_{o}\) to find \(U(T_f,L_f)-U(T_0,L_0)\).

      We start by identifying a path to integrate. See figure. We are careful to choose a path that only changes the temperature while the length is \(L_0\).

      The heat capacity at constant \(L\) is \(bT\) as long as \(L\) is equal to \(L_o\). So we can find the energy at any other temperature from \begin{align} U(T_f,L_o) &= U(T_o,L_o) + \int_{T_o}^{T_f} \left(\frac{\partial {U}}{\partial {T}}\right)_{L}dT \\ &= U(T_o,L_o) + \int_{T_o}^{T_f} bT dT \\ &= U(T_o,L_o) + \frac{b}{2} \left(T_f^2 - T_o^2 \right) \end{align} Now we just need to integrate in the \(L\) direction, keeping in mind that the temperature is \(T_f\) during this part of the path. \begin{align} U(T_f,L_f) &= U(T_f,L_o) + \int_{L_o}^{L_f} \left(\frac{\partial {U}}{\partial {L}}\right)_{T}dL \\ &= U(T_f,L_o) + \int_{L_o}^{L_f} - a T_f^{2} (L - L_{o}) dL \\ &= U(T_f,L_o) - \frac{a T_f^2}{2} \left(L_f-L_o \right)^2 \\ U(T_f,L_f) &= U(T_o,L_o) + \frac{b}{2} \left(T_f^2 - T_o^2\right) - \frac{a T_f^2}{2} \left(L_f-L_o \right)^2 \end{align}