Grade:

Date:

Physics 204L

Heat Engine
NAME: ____________________________ SECTION: ________
P_NAME: __________________________ INSTRUCTOR: __________
Experimental procedure:
Part I: Boyles Law
Temperature= _________
Cross-sectional Area of cylinder A =_________
Piston position x ( Gas Pressure (
)
98
99.8
90
106.3
80
111.6
70
115.5
60
115.7

Volume of air in 1/V

cylinder V( )
81300.81
1.23E04
74682.59
1.339E04
66401.06
1.506E04
58105.75
1.721E04
49800.79
2.008E04

Plot the pressure versus the inverse of volume. Do you get a straight line? If yes
determine using linear regression the slope of your straight line along with its associated
error. Find from the slope the number of moles of air inside the cylinder.
Y

99800

1.23E04

151290000

3538.8

12523105

106300

1.339E04

179292100

-840.06

705700

111600

1.506E04

226803600

-2890

8352100

115500

1.721E04

296184100

-2606

6781236

115700

2.008E04

403206400

2778

7717284

x2

Slope A: 1.946
Intercept: 79403.47
n = A/ RT = 1.946/ ( 0.0821)(25+273)

e2

n= 0.089 moles
2
N ei
Error on slope s =
= 0.311
N -2 D
2
A

Slope = (1.9 0.3 ) Pa.m3

D = N xi2 - ( xi )2 =193639400

Part II: Heat Engine

Piston Diameter d = (32.5 0.1) mm
Mass of piston-and-platform= (35.00 0.06) g
Area of the cylinder A =

Before recording any data, run the experiment through a few cycles to get used to its
operation

Fill in the table below, record the cold and hot temperatures using the provided
thermometer. TC and T h .Also record the displacement h of the mass m=200 g produced
by the heat engine.
Trial

xA

xB

xC

PA ( )

xD

PB ( )

h( )

TC ( ) T h ( )

1
2
3
4

1. Determine the thermodynamic work done, for each trial. (Show a sample
calculation)

2. Find the average value of the thermodynamic work done along with its rms
error.

3. Calculate the mechanical work done in lifting the mass m=200g along with its
uncertainty. Compare this work to the work done by the thermodynamic cycle.

4. What is the maximum theoretical thermal efficiency of the engine?

5. Is the heat engine we are dealing with a Carnot engine? Explain.