Thermodynamics: Entropy and specific heat

In summary, the conversation discusses confusion about entropy change statements. The first equation given is in terms of moles of gas and the second in terms of mass of gas, making it difficult to understand the presence of isobaric specific heat. However, it is clarified that the two equations are for different measures of amount of gas and taking into account the relationship between C_p and C_V, the confusion is resolved.
  • #1
Pandris
3
0
Hi here!

(before scriptum. Sorry for my lousy English and LaTex.)

I am a bit confused about entropy change statements:

In most textbooks is given:
[tex] \Delta S = n (C_V ln \frac{ \ T_{2}}{T_1} + R ln \frac{ \ V_{2}}{V_1}) [/tex]

where n - moles of gas. And dimension of entropy is [J/K]

But now I have one book there entropy change is defined using specific heats:

[tex]
\Delta S = m (c_v ln \frac{ \ p_{2}}{p_{1}} + c_p ln \frac{ \ V_{2}}{V_{1}})
[/tex]

where m - mass of gass, and dimension is [J/(kmol*K)]

I can't understand where this isobaric specific heat gets here!

Ok, I understand that these entropies essentially are given for different measures of amount of gass. First is given for moles, but second for kilograms. (am I right??)

But how to involve specific heats there is obscure for me.

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
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  • #2
Oh my!

Am I blind or what?!

Everything works out if take in mind that
[tex]
C_p - C_V = R
[/tex]
and

[tex]
c_v = \frac { \ C_{V}}{ \mu}
[/tex]

That's it! Sorry for buzzer!
 
  • #3

Hi there,

First of all, your English and LaTex are perfectly fine, so no need to apologize!

To understand the difference in the two equations for entropy change, we need to first understand the concept of specific heat. Specific heat is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree. It is a property of the substance and is usually denoted by the symbols c or C.

In the first equation, the change in entropy is given in terms of moles of gas, which is a measure of the amount of gas. This equation takes into account the change in temperature and volume of the gas, as well as the gas constant (R). The gas constant is a universal constant that relates the energy of a system to its temperature and is used to convert from moles to mass in the second equation.

In the second equation, the change in entropy is given in terms of mass of gas, which is a measure of the amount of substance. This equation takes into account the change in temperature and volume of the gas, as well as the specific heats (c_v and c_p). The specific heats are used to convert from mass to moles and take into account the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a specific mass of a substance.

To summarize, the first equation is used when the amount of gas is measured in moles, while the second equation is used when the amount of substance is measured in mass. The specific heats are used to convert between these two measures of amount. I hope this helps to clarify the use of specific heats in the equations for entropy change. Let me know if you have any further questions.

Best regards,
 

FAQ: Thermodynamics: Entropy and specific heat

What is thermodynamics?

Thermodynamics is a branch of physics that deals with the study of heat and its transformation into different forms of energy. It also includes the relationship between heat, work, and temperature.

What is entropy?

Entropy is a measure of the disorder or randomness of a system. In thermodynamics, it is often described as the measure of the unavailability of a system's thermal energy for conversion into mechanical work.

How does entropy relate to the second law of thermodynamics?

The second law of thermodynamics states that the total entropy of an isolated system always increases over time, meaning that the disorder or randomness of the system will always increase. This law helps to explain why certain processes are irreversible and why energy tends to spread out evenly.

What is specific heat?

Specific heat is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius. It is a physical property that is unique to each substance and is important for understanding the transfer of heat in different materials.

How does specific heat affect the behavior of a substance?

Specific heat affects the behavior of a substance by determining how quickly it will heat up or cool down when exposed to a change in temperature. Substances with a higher specific heat will require more heat energy to change their temperature compared to substances with a lower specific heat. This can have important implications in fields such as engineering and thermodynamics.

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