ME 2121-1 PART 2 SPECIFIC HEAT RATIO OF IDEAL GASES

(CLEMENT & DESORMES EXPERIMENT)

** Students are to bring a thumbdrive to the laboratory session to download experimental data.

2013/2014

Department of Mechanical Engineering

National University of Singapore

AS A SAFETY MEASURE, WEARING OF SHOES DURING EXPERIMENT IS MANDATORY.

WEARING OF SHORTS OF ANY KIND (E.G. BERMUDAS, MINI SHORTS) IS ALSO
PROHIBITED AND STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR LONG PANTS.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF FIGURES

(ii)

NOMENCLATURE

(iii)

INTRODUCTION

DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS

'I'HEORY

PROCEDURE

CALCULATIONS / RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

REFERENCES

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure I P-V diagram for the ideal gas processes in Clement &
Desormes experiment

Figure 2 Clement & Desormes apparatus

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NOMENCLATURE

Symbol

Description

Units (SI)

P 1 , V1

Ideal gas pressure and volume after pressurization

Pa, m3

P 2 , V2

Instantaneous ideal gas pressure and volume after release

Pa, m3

P 3 , V3

Steady state ideal gas pressure and volume after release

Pa, m3

h1

Manometer fluid height differential corresponding to P1

cm

h2

Manometer fluid height differential corresponding to P2

cm

h3

Manometer fluid height differential corresponding to P3

cm

Ratio of specific heat capacity of ideal gas

dimensionless

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INTRODUCTION
A method of determining

Cp

, the ratio of the specific heat capacities at constant

Cv
pressure and at constant volume of an ideal gas, was proposed by Clement and
Desormes. The method consists of allowing the ideal gas to undergo a quasi-static
adiabatic expansion process from state I to state 2, followed by a constant volume
process from state 2 to state 3 (Fig. 1).

DESCRIPTION OF THE GRIFFIN CLEMENT & DESORMES

APPARATUS
The Griffin Clement and Desormes apparatus consists of a 0.018m3 stainless-steel
cylinder with a 74mm diameter flange welded to its top surface. A ball release valve
and a three-way rubber pipette filler bulb are mounted on fitting and welded to the lip
surface of the flange. A U-tube manometer is used to measure pressure differential
and is connected to the cylinder with a rubber tube. Air will be used as the gas under
study (Fig. 2).

THEORY
Referring to Fig. 1, when an ideal gas undergoes a quasi-static adiabatic expansion
process (PV = constant) from state 1 to state 2, the relationship between its pressure
and volume can be represented by:

ln

V2
P
ln 2
V1
P1

In addition, the ideal gas equation of state (PV = mRT) between states 1 and 2:
T2 P2 V2

T1 P1 V1

(1)

(2)

where m = molar mass and R = ideal gas constant.

During the process 23, the ideal gas undergoes a constant volume process, so that
mR

or,

P2 V2 P3V3

T2
T3

P2 P3

T2 T3

(3)

(4)
1
1

If, at the end of this constant volume process, the temperature T3 is allowed to reach
its initial value T1, then
P2 P3

T2 T1
Combining equations (1), (2) and (5) gives
P1
)
P2

P
(ln 1 )
P3

(5)

ln(

(6)

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
1.

The specific gravity of the manometer fluid is 0.784 at 20 oC.

2.

Ensure that the fluid in both the limbs of the manometer is at the same level
and close the release valve fully.

3.

By means of the rubber bulb pipette filler, air is then pumped into the vessel
until a pressure, equivalent to about 20 cm of fluid, is indicated by the
manometer. For some minutes after the pumping had stopped, the pressure as
indicated by the manometer would gradually fall. This is attributed to the air,
which was heated during the compression, slowly attaining room temperature.
When the manometer indicates a stationary pressure, the height difference h1
between the oil levels in the limbs of the manometer is read and P1 is
calculated. The reading should be taken as half of the manometer scale.

4.

Next, the release valve is opened until the fluid in both limbs of the
manometer is seen to be level. After this happens, the valve is immediately
closed. This would allow the pressure to fall to atmospheric pressure (P2 =
1.012 x 105 Pa) sufficiently rapidly for no passage of heat to occur during the
expansion. The expansion will, therefore, be adiabatic. The temperature is
allowed to return to that at the beginning of the experiment, during which time
the pressure in the vessel will
increase to the new value P3, indicated by the height difference, h3, between
the two oil levels. P3 is then recorded.

5.

The above procedure is repeated 5 times to obtain different initial pressures for
the gas. The barometric pressure is also reported.

Note: The greatest source of error in this experiment will occur if insufficient time is
allowed for steady conditions to be obtained. Five minutes generally suffice but it is

an advantage to keep a graph of pressure against time before and after releasing the
air. It will indicate the times at which the temperature of the air in the vessel
becomes stable after pressure changes.

RESULTS/CALCULATION & DISCUSSION

1)

Record the following data: five random values (between 10-30 units) of h1 and
h3. Thereafter, find the corresponding values of P1, P3, In (PI/P2) and In (P1/P3).
For each set of readings of h1 and h3, find and obtain its average.

2)

Comment on the sources of experimental errors.

3)

Prove that when an ideal gas with constant specific heat capacities undergoes a
quasi-static, adiabatic process between states 1 and state 2, the relationship
between its pressure and volume is given by pv = constant (or as given in
equation 1).

4)

Comment on the experimental technique in relation to the theoretical derivation

for determining the value of .
(items (3) and (4) are meant for formal report)

REFERENCES
1)
2)
3)

Barrow G.M., "Physical Chemistry," 2nd edition, McGraw-Hill, 1966.

Maron S.H., & Prutton C.F., "Principles of Physical Chemistry," 4th edition,
Macmillan Co., 1965.
Glasstone S., "Textbook of Physical Chemistry," 2rd edition, D. van Nostrand
Co. Inc., 1951.

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