Quick question about pressure in gases.

In summary, the conversation discusses the pressure and entropy changes when two gases in a vessel are mixed together. The equation for the new pressure after mixing is the average of the starting pressures, while the equation for entropy change involves volume and temperature as well. There is a problem in simplifying the equation to solve for P1 and P2.
  • #1
Beer-monster
296
0
Two gases are in a vessel and separated by a partition. They start at different pressures P1 and P2. When the partition is removed and equilibrium restored am I right in thinking the new pressure is the average of the starting pressure i.e.

[tex] P_{f} = \frac{P1+P2}{2}[/tex]

Thanks.
 
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  • #2
Nope. Volume and temperature count, too.

What would happen if one side of the vessel contained a thimble full of gas at 100 Pa, and the other side contained a tanker car full at 50 Pa? Would an average make sense?
 
  • #3
Okay using Boyle's Law I get:

[tex] P_{f}=\frac{P1V1+P2V2}{(V1+V2)}[/tex]

If this is correct, I have the slight problem that my work for the full question (calculate the entropy change when the gases mix) end with:

[tex] \Delta S = nR \ln\left(\frac{P1P2}{P_{f}^{2}}\right) [/tex]

Substituting the first expression in gives a mess, which I can't seem to simplify to give an expression in terms of P1 and P2. Anyone poke me in the right direction?
 

FAQ: Quick question about pressure in gases.

What is pressure in gases?

Pressure in gases is the force exerted by the gas molecules on the walls of the container they are in. It is a measure of how much the molecules are colliding with each other and with the walls of the container.

How is pressure in gases measured?

Pressure in gases is usually measured in units of pascals (Pa) or atmospheres (atm). It can be measured using various tools such as a barometer, manometer, or pressure gauge.

What factors affect pressure in gases?

The pressure in gases is affected by the number of gas molecules present, the temperature of the gas, and the volume of the container. Increasing any of these factors will result in an increase in pressure.

How does pressure in gases relate to temperature?

According to the ideal gas law, pressure in gases is directly proportional to temperature, meaning that as temperature increases, pressure also increases. This is because the molecules in the gas have more kinetic energy and collide with the container walls more frequently.

What is the relationship between pressure and volume in gases?

According to Boyle's Law, pressure and volume in gases are inversely proportional, meaning that as one increases, the other decreases. This is because as gas molecules are compressed into a smaller volume, they have less space to move and collide with each other, resulting in a higher pressure.

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