LESSON 03: THERMODYNAMIC CONCEPTS

Unit 01: Thermodynamic Measurements and Quantities

Introduction:

Thermodynamic systems are described by measurable quantities such as pressure, volume,

temperature and amount of material. This is because a change in any of them may result in a
change on the property and state of the system it describes. With this, in the study of
thermodynamics, no one can never go away from measurements and its related works.

Lesson objectives:

After successful completion of this lesson, the students are expected to:

1) Covert different thermodynamic parameters across different systems of measurements

2) Solve problems related to thermodynamic parameters such as, but not limited to,
temperature, pressure, density, and work.
3) Derive different equations for solving pressure.

Course Materials:

Thermodynamic Quantities

Since the study of thermodynamics involves changes in thermodynamic parameters, it is

important to review the different fundamental dimensions and quantities that are involved in such
changes.

Dimensions and Units

Measurement is the extent, size, capacity or amount of something as has been determined.3 It is
composed of a magnitude and a unit. The magnitude determines the quantity of something being
measured, while the unit determines the physical quantity of being measured.

In 1960, the international community had agreed to use a standard means of measurement in
scientific engagements known as SI unites or the Sytème International d’Unitès. The SI base units
important in the study of thermodynamics is shown in Table 1.0.

Table 1.0. SI Base Units Important in the Study of Thermodynamics.

Physical Name of
Definition Abbreviation
Quantities Unit
the mass of a platinudiridium cylinder
kept at the International Bureau of
Mass Kilogram kg
Weights and Measures at Skvres,
France.
the distance light travels in a vacuum
Length Meter m
during 11,299,792,458 of a second.
the duration of 9 192 631 770 cycles
of radiation associated with a
Time Second S
specified transition of the cesium
atom.
 equal to 11273.16 of the
Temperature thermodynamic temperature of the Kelvin K
triple point of water
the amount of substance
Amount of represented by as many elementary
Mole mol
substance entities (e.g., molecules) as there are
atoms in 0.012 kg of carbon-12.

These base units can be combined with each other to form the derived units. Common SI derived
units in the field of thermodynamics are shown in Table 2.0.

Table 2.0. Common SI Derived Units Used in Thermodynamics

Physical Quantity Derived unit Definition
Volume Cubic meter m3
Force Newton kg-m-s-2
Energy Joule (Newton-meter) Nm or kg-m2-s-2
Pressure Pascal (Newton per square meter) N-m-2 or kg-m-1-s-2

It was also agreed upon that in SI units, prefixes may represent multiples or decimal fraction of
various units as shown in Table 3.0.

Table 3.0. Prefixes Used in the SI and Metric System of Measurements

Prefix Abbreviation Meaning
Peta P 1015
Tera T 1012
Giga G 109
Mega M 106
Kilo (m) k (1m) x 103
Deci d 10-1
Centi c 10-2
Milli (m) m (1m) x 10-3
Micro μ 10-6
Nano n 10-9
Pico p 10-12
Femto f 10-15
Atto a 10-18
Zepto z 10-21

There are different system of units available and are being used in different communities around
the world. The common ones are as shown in Table 4.0.

Table 4.0. Common Systems of Measurements

Physical Systems of Measurement
Quantities SI Metric CGS English
Mass Kilogram Kilogram gram Pound
Length Meter Meter centimeter Foot
Time Second Second second Second
 Temperature Kelvin Kelvin Kelvin Rankine
Amount of
Mole Mole mole Pound-mole
Substance
cubic
Volume liter centiliter gallon
meter
Force Newton Newton Pound-force
Foot-pound-
Energy Joule Joule Ergs
force
Pound per
Pressure Pascal Pascal
square inch

Due to the existence of the different systems, a skill on converting one unit to the other is needed
in order to solve problems on thermodynamics. Such skill is known as dimensional analysis
(Figure 1.0.) wherein one uses conversion factors to jump from one unit to another. Conversion
factors are fractions composed of a numerator and a denominator of the same magnitude
expressed in different units as shown in Table 5.0.

𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡
conversion
𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 = 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑥 factor
𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡

Figure 1.0: The process of dimensional analysis

Table 5.0 Common Conversion Factors

Quantity Conversion
Mass 1 kg = 103 g
= 2.2046 lb
1 lb = 453.59 g
= 16 oz
Length 1 m = 100 cm
= 3.28084 ft
= 39.3701 in
= 1.0936 yd
1 km = 0.62137 mi
1 mi = 5280 ft
= 1.6093 km
1 in = 2.54 cm
Volume 1 m3 = 106 cm3
= 35.3147 ft3
= 264.172 gal
1 L = 10-3 m3
= 1 dm3
= 103 cm3
= 1.0567 qt
1 gal = 4 qt
= 3.7854 L
1 cm3 = 1 mL
 Force 1 N = 1 kg m s-2
F = (m) x (a) = 105 dyne W = (m) x (gc)
= 0.224 lbf
Energy 1 J = 1 kg m2 s-2
=1Nm
= 1 m3 Pa
= 10-5 m3 bar
= 10 cm3 bar
= 9.86923 cm3 atm
= 107 dyne cm = 107 erg
= 0. 239006 cal
= 5.12197 x10-3 ft3 psia
= 0.737562 ft lbf
= 9.47831 x10-4 Btu
= 1 C-V
1 cal = 4.184 J
1 eV = 1.602 x10-19 J
Pressure 1 bar = 105 kg m-1 s-2
= 105 N m-2
= 105 Pa
P = (F) / (A) = 106 dyne cm-2
= 0.986 atm
= 14.5038 psia
= 750.061 torr
1 Pa = 1 N m-2
= 1 kg m s-2
1 atm = 1.01325 x105 Pa
= 760 torr
= 14.7 psi
1 torr = 1 mmHg
Power 1 kW = 103 W = 103 J s-1
= 239.006 cal s-1
= 737.562 ft lbf s-1
= 0.947831 BTU s-1
= 1.34102 hp
Temperature K = C + 273.15
C = 5/9 (F -32)

Measures on the Amount or Size

Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object.

Weight of an object is the force acting on it due to gravitational force.

Volume is the amount of space that is occupied by a substance.

Molar volume is the volume is the one mole of a substance.

 Density of a substance is the ratio of the mass to the volume of the substance.

Specific volume of a substance is the ratio of the volume to the mass of the substance.

Specific weight of a substance is the ratio of the weight to the volume of a substance.

Specific gravity (relative density) of a liquid is the ratio of density of the liquid to the
density of water at a specified temperature.

Specific gravity (relative density) of a gas is the ratio of the density of air to the density
of water at a specified temperature and pressure.

Temperature

Temperature is the measure of the coldness or warmth of a substance.

Absolute temperature is the temperature measured using a scale beginning at zero, with
that zero being the coldest theoretically attainable in nature.

Boiling point – the state wherein the liquid and the gaseous phases of a substance is at
equilibrium.

Melting point – the state wherein the solid and the liquid phases of a substance is at
equilibrium.

Triple point – the state wherein all three phases (solid, liquid and gas) of a substance
coexist simultaneously (Triple point of water is 0.01°C)

C K

Figure 1: Relationship among different temperature scales.

Derivation of formula on the conversion of one temperature scale to another:

Working principle: A substance has the same interval from its ice to the steam points regardless
of the scale.

a. K = C + 273.15

Steam Point 373.15 100

Temperature scale K C
Ice Point 273.15 0

373.15 − 273.15 100 − 0

=
𝐾 − 273.15 ℃−0
100 100
=
𝐾 − 273.15 ℃

𝐾 = ℃ + 273.15

b. C = 5/9 (F -32)

Steam Point 100 212

Temperature scale C F
Ice Point 0 32

100 − 0 212 − 32
=
℃−0 ℉ − 32

100 180
=
℃ ℉ − 32
5 9
=
℃ ℉ − 32
5
℃= (℉ − 32)
9
Pressure

Pressure is defined as the amount of the normal force that is exerted over a specific
surface area.

Figure 2: Dead-weight gauge

Derivation of formulas used for calculations of pressure exerted by a fluid over a surface area:

Let P = pressure exerted by the fluid

F = normal force exerted by the fluid
A = surface area on which the force is exerted to
m = mass of the fluid
g = gravitational acceleration exerted on the fluid
V = volume of the fluid
 = density of the fluid
h = height difference of the fluid resulting from the exerted force

From the definition of pressure,

𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒, 𝐹
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒, 𝑃 =
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎, 𝐴

𝑭
𝑷=
𝑨

But Force is the product of mass, m and gravitational acceleration,g

𝑚𝑔
𝑃=
𝐴

But density,  is defined as the ratio of the mass (m) over volume (V) of the fluid,
 𝜌𝑉𝑔
𝑃=
𝐴

But Volume is the product cross-sectional area, A and height of the fluid, h

𝜌𝐴ℎ𝑔
𝑃=
𝐴

𝑷= 𝝆𝒉𝒈

Therefore, the pressure that is inserted by the fluid is the product of the fluid density, the
height difference resulting from the pressure and the gravitational acceleration.

Atmospheric pressure (Pressureatm) is the pressure that is exerted by the atmosphere.

Gauge pressure (Pressuregauge) is the pressure at a point in a fluid above that of the
atmosphere.

Absolute pressure (Pressureabs) is a pressure that is relative to the zero pressure in the
empty, air-free space of the universe.

𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 = 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑐 + 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑔𝑎𝑢𝑔𝑒

Sample Problem 01:

Carry out the following conversions of energy units: (a) 14.3 BTU into cal, (b) 1.4 x105 cal into
joules, (c) 31.6 mJ into BTU

Solution:

0.239006 𝑐𝑎𝑙
Energy, cal = 14.3 𝐵𝑇𝑈 × = 3.61 𝑥 102 𝑐𝑎𝑙
9.47831 𝑥10−4 𝐵𝑇𝑈
1𝐽
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦, 𝐽 = 1.4 𝑥105 𝑐𝑎𝑙 × = 5.9 𝑥106 𝐽
0.239006 𝑐𝑎𝑙

1𝐽 9.47831 𝑥10−4
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦, 𝐵𝑇𝑈 = 31.6 𝑚𝐽 × × = 3.00 𝑥10 −5 𝐵𝑇𝑈
1000 𝑚𝐽 1𝐽

Sample Problem 02:

Make the following conversions: (a) 72°F to °C; (b) 216°C to °F; (c) 233°C to K; (d) 315K to °F;
(e) 0K to °F

Solution:

5 5
𝑇𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒, ℃ = (℉ − 32) = (72 − 32) = 22 ℃
9 9
 9 9
𝑇𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒, ℉ = ℃ + 32 = [( ) (216)] + 32 = 421 ℉
5 5

𝑇𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒, 𝐾 = ℃ + 273.15 = 233 + 273.15 = 506.15 𝐾

9 9
𝑇𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒, ℉ = [ (𝐾 − 273.15)] + 32 = [ (315 − 273.15)] + 32 = 107.33 𝐾
5 5
9 9
𝑇𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒, ℉ = [ (𝐾 − 273.15)] + 32 = [ (315 − 0)] + 32 = 599 ℉
5 5

Sample Problem 03:

Suppose you decide to define your own temperature scale using the freezing point (13°C) and
boiling point (360°C) of oleic acid, the main component of olive oil. If you set the freezing point of
oleic acid as 0°O and the boiling point as 100°O, what is the freezing point and boiling point of
water on this new scale?

Solution:

Steam Point 360 100

Temperature scale C O
Ice Point 13 0

360 − 13 100 − 0
=
℃ − 13 °𝑂 − 0
100
°𝑂 = (℃ − 13)
347

Substitute the freezing point of water (0C) to the derived equation:

100
𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑧𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡, °𝑂 = (0 − 13) = −3.75 °𝑂
347

Substitute the boiling point of water (100C) to the derived equation:

100
𝐵𝑜𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡, °𝑂 = (100 − 13) = 25.1 𝑂
347

Sample Problem 04:

The density of air at ordinary atmospheric pressure and 25°C is 1.19 g/L. What is the mass, in
kilograms, of the air in a room that measures 14.5 ft x 16.5 ft x 8.0 ft.
Given: Density of air = 1.19 g/L
Rectangular room dimension = 14.5 ft x 16.5 ft x 8.0 ft.

Required: mass of air

Solution:

From the definition of density,

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠, 𝑚
𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝜌 =
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒, 𝑉

Rearranging the equation will lead to the working formula,

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠, 𝑚 = (𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝜌) 𝑥 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒, 𝑉

Take note that the volume of a rectangle is length x width x height,

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠, 𝑚 = 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑥 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑥 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑥 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

Substituting the given values,

1.19 𝑔 12 𝑖𝑛 3 2.54 𝑐𝑚 3 1 𝑚𝐿 1𝐿 1 𝑘𝑔
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 = ( ) (14. 5 𝑓𝑡)(16.5 𝑓𝑡)(8.0 𝑓𝑡) ( ) ( ) ( 3
)( )( )
𝐿 1 𝑓𝑡 1 𝑖𝑛 1 𝑐𝑚 1000 𝑚𝐿 1000 𝑔

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 = 64.5 𝑘𝑔

Sample Problem 05:

A sample of tetrachloroethylene, a liquid used in dry cleaning that is being phased out because
of its potential to cause cancer, has a mass of 40.55 g and a volume of 25.0mL at 25°C. What is
its density at this temperature? (b) Carbon dioxide is a gas at room temperature and pressure.
However, carbon dioxide can be put under pressure to become supercritical fluid that is much
safer dry-cleaning agent than tetrachloroethylene. At a certain pressure, the density of
supercritical CO2 is 0.469 g/cm3. What is the mass of a 25.0mL sample of supercritical CO2 at this
pressure?

a) Given: Carbon tetrachloride

Mass = 40.55 grams
Volume = 25.0 mL
Required: density of carbon tetrachloride
Solution:

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠, 𝑚 40.55 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 𝑔

𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝜌 = = = 1.622
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒, 𝑉 25. 0 𝑚𝐿 𝑚𝐿

b) Given: Carbon dioxide

Density = 0.469 g/cm3
Volume = 25.0 mL
 Required: mass of carbon dioxide
Solution:

𝑔 𝑐𝑚3
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠, 𝑚 = (𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝜌)(𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒, 𝑉) = (0.469 ) (25.0 𝑚𝐿) ( ) = 11.7 𝑔
𝑐𝑚3 𝑚𝐿
Sample Problem 06:

An astronaut weighs 739N in Houston, Texas, where the local acceleration of gravity is g = 9.793
m/s2. What are the astronaut’s mass and weight in the moon where g = 1.67 m/s2?

Solution:

Given:

Texas Moon
Mass (?) (?)
Gravitational acceleration 9.793 m/s2 1.67 m/s2
Weight 739 Newtons (?)

Required: The mass and weight of the man in the moon

Solution:

𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑥 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 =
𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

Calculating for the mass of the man in Texas,

𝑘𝑔 𝑚
𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑇𝑒𝑥𝑎𝑠 739 𝑁 1
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑇𝑒𝑥𝑎𝑠 = = ( )( 𝑠 2 ) = 75.5 𝑘𝑔
𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑇𝑒𝑥𝑎𝑠 𝑚 1𝑁
9.793 2
𝑠

Calculating for the mass of the man in the moon,

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑀𝑜𝑜𝑛 = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑇𝑒𝑥𝑎𝑠 = 75.5 𝑘𝑔

Calculating for the weight of the man in the moon,

𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑀𝑜𝑜𝑛 = (𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑀𝑜𝑜𝑛 )(𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑚𝑜𝑜𝑛 )

𝑚 1𝑁
𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑚𝑜𝑜𝑛 = (75.5 𝑘𝑔) (1.67 )( ) = 126 𝑁
𝑠 2 𝑘𝑔 𝑚
1
𝑠2
Sample Problem 07:

A dead-weight gauge with a 1-cm diameter piston is used to measure pressures very accurately.
In a particular instance, a mass of 6.14kg (including piston and pan) brings it into balance. If the
local acceleration of gravity is 9.82 m/s2, what is the gauge pressure being measured? If the
barometric pressure is 748 torr, what is the absolute pressure?

Given: dead-weight gauge,

diameter = 1 cm
mass = 6.14 kg
gravitational acceleration, g = 9.82 m/s2

Required: Gauge pressure and absolute pressure when the barometric pressure is 748 torr
Solution:

Solving for the gauge pressure,

𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑥 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑢𝑎𝑔𝑒 = =
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒

𝑚
(6.14 𝑘𝑔) (9.82 2) 1𝑁 1 𝑃𝑎 1 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑢𝑎𝑔𝑒 = 𝑠
2 ( 𝑘𝑔 𝑚) (1 𝑁 )( ) = 768 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝜋 1𝑚
[4 (1 𝑐𝑚)2 ] (100 𝑐𝑚) 1 ⁄𝑚2 1000 𝑃𝑎
𝑠2

Solving for the absolute pressure,

𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 = 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑢𝑎𝑔𝑒 + 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐

1 𝑎𝑡𝑚 101.325 𝑘𝑃𝑎

𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 = 768 𝑘𝑃𝑎 + [(748 𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑟) ( ) ] = 867 𝑘𝑃𝑎
760 𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑟 1 𝑎𝑡𝑚

Sample Problem 08:

At 27°C, the reading on a manometer filled with mercury is 60.5 cm. The local acceleration of
gravity is 9.784 m/s2. To what pressure does this height of mercury correspond? Express answer
in bar. Density of mercury at 27°C is 13.53 g/cm3.

Given: mercury manometer reading = 60.5 cm

Gravitational acceleration = 9.784 m/s2
Density of mercury = 13.53 g/cm3

Required: Pressure

Solution:

𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑥 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑥 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

 𝑔 𝑚 1𝑁 100 𝑐𝑚 2 1 𝑃𝑎 1 𝑏𝑎𝑟
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = (13.53 ) (60.5 𝑐𝑚) (9.784 2 ) ( )( ) ( )( )
𝑐𝑚 3 𝑠 𝑘𝑔 𝑚 1𝑚 𝑁 5
⁄𝑚2 1 𝑥 10 𝑃𝑎
1
𝑠2

𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 0.801 𝑏𝑎𝑟

Sample Problem 09:

A fluid has a density of 920 kg/m3. What is the specific gravity of the fluid?

Given: fluid density = 920 kg/m3

Required: fluid specific gravity
Solution:

𝑘𝑔
𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝜌𝐿 920 3
𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 = = 𝑚 = 0.92
𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝜌𝐻2 𝑂 𝑘𝑔
1000 3
𝑚

Sample Problem 10:

A condenser vacuum gauge read 580 mmHg when the barometer reads 760 mmHg. Determine
the absolute condenser pressure in bars.

Given: Vacuum gauge reading = 580 mmHg

Barometer reading = 760 mmHg

Required: Absolute pressure in bars

Solution:

𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 = 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑢𝑔𝑒 + 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐

1 𝑎𝑡𝑚 1.01325 𝑥105 𝑃𝑎 1 𝑏𝑎𝑟

𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 = (−580 𝑚𝑚𝐻𝑔 + 760 𝑚𝑚𝐻𝑔) ( )( )( )
760 𝑚𝑚𝐻𝑔 1 𝑎𝑡𝑚 1 𝑥105 𝑃𝑎

𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 = 0. 24 𝑏𝑎𝑟

Activities and Assessments:

1.) Derive a formula that can be used to convert a temperature reading from Kelvin to Rankine
scales.
2.) 5. An Olympic-size pool is 50.0 m long ang 25.0 m wide. How many gallons of water (density = 1.0
g/mL) are needed to fill the pool to an average depth of 4.8 ft?
3.) An iron block weighs 5N and has a volume of 200 cm 3. What is the density of the block in kg/m3?
4.) The equivalent pressure gauge of a compound gauge measuring a pressure of 25.3 inches mercury
is ____. Density of mercury is 13.53 g/cm 3: Express your answer in kilopascal.
5.) A 15cm diameter piston was uniformly applied by a force of 1200 N. Find the pressure on the piston.
Express answer in kilopascals.