Homework 1

MAE 110A
Solutions
10/03/2016
Every problem must have Problem description, Sketch(if possible), Initial and
final state, what is to be determined, engineering model, Equations, Analysis.
Problem 1 A piston separates two chambers in a horizontal cylinder as shown in the
accompanying figure. Each chamber has a volume of 1 m3 and the pressure of the gas is 5
kP a. The piston has a diameter of 50 cm and has a mass of 200 kg. If the cylinder is now
set vertically, determine the pressure in each chamber. Assume pressure times volume to
remain constant in each chamber.
Solution Problem description - Pressure times volume remains constant, Horizontal cylinder has 2 chambers that are seperated by piston, closed system, cylinder is set vertically.
Given - P = 5kP a, V = 1m3 , m = 200kg, R = 0.25m. Cylinder is horizontal initially, and
is then made vertical. A sketch of the diagram is as follows

Figure 1: Sketch
where P1 and V1 are pressure and volume of cylinder at bottom and P2 and V2 are those at
the top. Initial state: p=5kPa, V=1. Diameter = 50cm, mass = 200 kg, horizontal at first
Final state: vertically set, same piston mass and diameter, g = 9.81
Determine pressure in each chamber
Engineering model: Cosed system, when position of cylinder is changed, gravity exists
and piston moves due to it, pressure times volume is constant in each chamber
Equations:
P1 V1 = Pinitial Vinitial
(1)
X
Fz = 0
(2)
1

V1 + V2 = Vtotal

(3)

P V = constant

(4)

It is given in the question that

Using equation 4 for each chamber, we get
5 1000 = P2 V2

(5)

5 1000 = P1 V1

(6)

P1 A = P2 A + mg

(7)

Using a force balance

Using known values and relations we see,
V1 + V2 = 2 (Total Volume is constant)
200 9.81
(Difference in pressure is due to weight of piston)
0.252
Plugging equations 9 and 8 into 6 and 5 we get
P1 P2 =

(8)
(9)

5000
P1
5000 = P2 (2 V1 )
5000
5000 = P2 (2
)
P1
5000 P1 = 2 P2 P1 5000 P2
V1 =

substituting in equation 9 for P1 we get the quadratic

2 P22 + 9984 P2 5000 9992 = 0

(10)

P2 = 3.09kPa

(11)

P1 = 13.0877kPa

(12)

Solving we find
Plug back in original equations to find

Problem 2 What labels - extensive (0) or intensive (1) can be attached to the following properties: (a) m (mass), (b) (specific volume), (c) T (temperature), (d) (density),
(e) KE (kinetic energy), (f) ke (specific kinetic energy), (g) m
(mass flow rate), and (h) V
(velocity). Describe what each property is and why it is extensive or intensive
Solution Those which depend on the extent of system are extensive properties. When
2 identical systems merge these properties double. Sub categories are total properties and
2

transport rates. With the exception of mass and molar, extensive properties are represented
by a uppercase symbols.Properties that are independent of the extent of the system are
intensive properties. When 2 identical systems are merged, intensive properties remain unchanged.
(a) 0. m is mass and is a total property
(b) 1. is a specific property ,
(c) 1. T is an intrinsic property
(d) 1. is an intrinsic property
(e) 0. K.E. is an extensive property
(f) 1. k.e is an extrinsic property
(g) 0. Can be considered a transport (extensive) property. The book states it is not a property, so that also is an acceptable answer.
(h) 1. Can be considered extrinsic (intensive) property, since it is dependent on observer.
The book states it is not a property, so that also is an acceptable answer.

Figure 2: Property Classification

Problem 3 A truck with a mass of 20000kg is travelling at 70 miles per hour.
(a) Determine its K.E in MJ.
(b) The truck uses an electrical brake, which can convert the K.E into electricity and charge
a battery. If the efficiency of the system is 50 %, what is the amount of energy in kW h that
will be stored in the battery as the truck comes to a halt.
Solution Problem description - Truck with mass 20000 kg travelling at 70mph.
Initial state: m = 20000kg, v = 70m/h. Final state: Energy stored as electricity
Engineering model: No potential energy
Equations:
K.E = 1/2mV 2

(13)

Analysis : Given - m = 20000kg, V = 70mph = 31.29m/s (using standard milesperhour

to m/s conversion) Equation for K.E. is given by
3

K.E. =

mV 2
kJ
2000

(14)

Using this, we get

mV 2
= 9.79064MJ
2000 1000
50 % of energy is stored in the battery. This means
K.E =

0.5 K.E MJ
0.5 9.79064 106
kWh
3.6 106
1.3598 kWh

Energy stored =
=
=

(15)

(16)
(17)
(18)

Problem 4 Figure 3 shows a storage tank holding natural gas. In an adjacent instrument
room, a U-tube mercury manometer in communication with the storage tank reads L = 1.0
m. If the atmospheric pressure is 101 kP a, the density of the mercury is 13.59g/cm3 , and
g = 9.81m/s2 , determine the pressure of the natural gas, in kP a.

Figure 3: Storage tank holding natural gas

Solution
Initial and final states: Manometer is connected to the storage tank by a line filled with gas.
Manometer shows a reading of L = 1.0m. It is given that = 13.59g/cm3 , g = 9.81m/s2 ,
Pa = 101 kP a.
Engineering model (a) Gas is a closed system
(b) Atmospheric pressure is exerted at the open end of the system
(c) Manometer fluid is mercury with a density of 13.59g/cm3
To find Pg , we use the formula
Pg = Pa + gL
4

(19)

This gives
13.59 1003
1
9.81
kPa
1000
1000
Pgas = 234.3 kPa

Pgas = 101 kPa +

(20)
(21)

Problem 5
As shown in Figure 4, an inclined manometer is used to measure the pressure of the gas
within the reservoir. (a) Using data on the figure, determine the gas pressure, in lbf /in2 (b)
Express the pressure as a guage or a vacuum pressure, as appropriate, in lbf /in2 (c) What
advantage does an inclined manometer have over the U-tube manometer shown in Figure 4?

Figure 4: Inclined manometer

Solution
Engineering model (a) Gas is a closed system
(b) Atmospheric pressure is exerted at the open end of the system
(c) Manometer fluid is mercury with a density of 845lb/f t3 We use,
Pg + g(L) = Pa

(22)

where Pa is the local atmospheric pressure, is the density of the manometer fluid (oil),
g is the acceleration due to gravity, and L is the vertical difference in liquid levels. Here, we
compare pressure at point a and b. Since level a is the same as level b, applying trigonometry
to determine the vertical difference in liquid levels between level b and the liquid level at the
free surface with the atmosphere yields
Pg = Pa gl sin(30 )

(23)

Substituting values
Pg = 14.7lbf/in2 (845lb/ft)(32.2ft/s2 )(6 in)(sin(30 ))(

1lbf
1ft3
)(
) = 13.232lbf/in2
32.2lbm ft/s2 1728in3
(24)

Since the pressure of the gas is less than atmospheric pressure, guage pressure is given by
Pguage = Pg Patm (absolute) = 13.232psia 14.7psia = 1.467psig

(25)

The advantage of the inclined manometer is its easier readability since the surface of the
liquid is wider than with a same diameter U-tube manometer. The scale on the inclined
manometer is much more precise since more graduations are possible compared with the
U-tube manometer.
Problem 6
The signal (e.m.f) produced by a thermocouple with its test junction at T C is given by
 = a + bT 2 [mV], where a = 0.2mV and b = 5.1 104 mV / C 2 . Suppose you define a
new scale after your name. The temperature in your scale is assumed to be linearly related
0
0
0
0
0
to the signal through T = a + b  with T = 25 at ice point and T = 150 at steam point.
0
0
0
Find the values of (a) a , (b) b , (c) plot T against T .
Solution Problem description: Relation between temperature and voltage
Engineering model: temp scale+ celcius scale, freezing=0, boiling=100
Given : T C is standard temperature. Signal produced by this temperature is
 = a + bT 2

(26)

New temperature scale defined as 0

T =a +b
0

(27)

T = 25 when T = 0 and T = 150 when T = 100. At T = 0,  = a = 0.2 and at T = 100, 

= a + b 1002 = 5.3. This gives
0
0
25 = a + b 0.2
(28)
0

150 = a + b 5.3
Solving equations 28 and 29 gives

a = 20.0980
0

b = 24.5098

(29)
(30)
(31)

Plugging this back into equation for T gives

0

T = 20.0980 +  24.5098

(32)

We know plug in our equation for  to get

0

T = 24.99996 + 124.9999 104 T 2

(33)

T vs T

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Figure 5: T vs T

70

80

90

100