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2/26/24, 10:03 AM Assignment Print View

1. Award: 3.18 points

The variation of fluid pressure with height is described by the differential equation:

dP
= - ρg
dz

Here, ρ is specific density and g is the local acceleration of gravity. For an ideal gas, ρ = MP/RT,
where M is molar mass and R is the universal gas constant. Modeling the atmosphere as an
isothermal column of ideal gas at 10°C, estimate the ambient pressure in a city, where z = 1.3
(mile) relative to sea level. For air, take M = 29 g·mol−1; values of R are given below.

The ambient pressure in the city is 0.777 ± 2% atm.

Explanation:

Substituting the ideal gas expression for density into the equation for variation of fluid pressure
with height gives

dP MP
dz
=- RT
g

If T is constant (along with M and g), then this is a separable equation that can be rearranged to
give

dP Mg
P
=- RT
dz

This can be directly integrated to give

ln
()
P
Po
=-
Mg
RT (z-zo )
or

(
P=P oexp - RT z-z o
Mg
( ))
The standard pressure at sea level is Po = 101325 Pa. If the city is 1.3 mile = 2091.7 meters
Processing math: 100%
above sea level, g = 9.8 m·s−2, M = 0.029 kg·mol−1, T = 10°C = 283 K, and R = 8.314

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2/26/24, 10:03 AM Assignment Print View

kg·m2·mol−1·K−1·s−2, then

( ( 0.029 kg·mol ) ( 9 . 8 m·s )

)
-1 −2

P=(101325 Pa)exp - (2091.7 m) = 78702.81 Pa

( 8 . 314 2
kg·m ·mol-1
·K -1
·s )
-2 ( 283 K )

The estimated pressure is 78702.81 Pa = 0.787 bar = 0.777 atm.

The ambient pressure in the city is 0.777 atm.

References

Worksheet Difficulty: Medium

2. Award: 3.18 points

An automobile having a mass of 1250 kg is traveling at 43 m·s−1. What is its kinetic energy in kJ?
How much work must be done to bring it to a stop?

The kinetic energy of the automobile is 1155.62 ± 2% kJ.

The amount of work that must be done to bring it to a stop is 1155.62 ± 2% kJ.

Explanation:

The kinetic energy is

1 1
KE = mv 2 = × 1250 kg × (43 m/s) 2 = 1155625 kg·m 2·s 2 = 1155625 J = 1155.62 kJ.
2 2

To bring this automobile to a stop, a minimum of 1155.62 kJ of work must be done on the
automobile.

The kinetic energy of the automobile is 1155.62 kJ.

The amount of work that must be done to bring it to a stop is 1155.62 kJ.

References

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2/26/24, 10:03 AM Assignment Print View

A gas is confined in a 0.47-m diameter cylinder by a piston, on which rests a weight. The mass of the
piston and weight together is 250 kg. The local acceleration of gravity is 9.813 m·s−2, and
atmospheric pressure is 101.57 kPa.

References

Section Break Difficulty: Easy

3. Award: 3.18 points

What is the force in newtons exerted on the gas by the atmosphere, the piston, and the weight,
assuming no friction between the piston and cylinder? (You must provide an answer before moving
to the next part.)

The force exerted on the gas by the atmosphere, the piston, and the weight is
20075.25 ± 2% N.

Explanation:

The force applied by the atmosphere (if the piston and weight were ‘massless’) would be the
atmospheric pressure (101.57 kPa) times the cross-sectional area of the piston.

πd 2 π ( 0.47 m ) 2
A= = = 0.173 m 2.
4 4

So, the force due to the atmosphere is

0.1735 m 2 × 1.0157 × 10 5 N·m -2 = 17622 N.

The additional force applied by the piston and weight is

F= mg = 250 kg × 9.813 m·s -2 = 2453.25 N.

Thus, the total force applied to the gas is about 20075.25 N.

The force exerted on the gas by the atmosphere, the piston, and the weight is 20075.25 N.

References

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2/26/24, 10:03 AM Assignment Print View

4. Award: 3.18 points

What is the pressure of the gas in kPa? (You must provide an answer before moving to the next
part.)

The pressure of the gas is 115.71 ± 2% kPa.

Explanation:

The pressure of the gas is the total force found in (a) divided by the cross-sectional area of the
piston.

20075.25 N
P= = 1.1571 × 10 5 N·m -2 = 1.1571 × 10 5 Pa = 115.71 kPa
0 . 1735 m 2
The pressure of the gas is 115.71 kPa.

References

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2/26/24, 10:03 AM Assignment Print View

5. Award: 3.18 points

If the gas in the cylinder is heated, it expands, pushing the piston and weight upward. If the piston
and weight are raised 0.83 m, what is the work done by the gas in kJ? What is the change in
potential energy of the piston and weight?

The work done by the gas is 16.662 ± 2% kJ.

The change in potential energy of the piston and weight is 2036.2 ± 2% J.

Explanation:

Since the mass of the piston and the pressure of the atmosphere don’t change in this process, the
pressure of the gas inside the piston is constant as it expands, and the force applied by the piston
and atmosphere to the gas is constant as the gas expands. We can compute the work either as
the pressure times the change in volume or the force times the distance the piston moves. Since
we’ve already computed the force in part (a), the simplest method is to multiply this force by the
distance that the piston travels.

W = Fl = 20075.25 N × 0.83 m = 16.662 kN·m = 16.662 kJ.

The change in potential energy of the piston and weight is

∆ E P = mg ∆ z = 250 kg × 9.813 m·s -2 × 0.83 m = 2036.2 kg·m 2·s -2 = 2036.2 J.

Thus, most of the work done by the gas goes toward ‘pushing back’ the atmosphere, not raising
the piston and weight. This is a result of the fact that most of the pressure being applied to the gas
is due to the atmosphere, and not due to the weight and piston.
The work done by the gas is 16.662 kJ.

The change in potential energy of the piston and weight is 2036.2 J.

References

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2/26/24, 10:03 AM Assignment Print View

6. Award: 3.18 points

What is the force in newtons exerted on the gas by the atmosphere, the piston, and the weight,
assuming no friction between the piston and cylinder? (You must provide an answer before moving
to the next part.)

The force exerted on the gas by the atmosphere, the piston, and the weight is
20075.25 ± 2% N.

Explanation:

The force applied by the atmosphere (if the piston and weight were ‘massless’) would be the
atmospheric pressure (101.57 kPa) times the cross-sectional area of the piston.

πd 2 π ( 0.47 m ) 2
A= 4
= 4
= 0.173 m 2.

So, the force due to the atmosphere is

0.1735 m 2 × 1.0157 × 10 5 N·m -2 = 17622 N.

The additional force applied by the piston and weight is

F= mg = 250 kg × 9.813 m·s -2 = 2453.25 N.

Thus, the total force applied to the gas is about 20075.25 N.

The force exerted on the gas by the atmosphere, the piston, and the weight is 20075.25 N.

References

Worksheet Difficulty: Medium

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2/26/24, 10:03 AM Assignment Print View

7. Award: 3.18 points

What is the pressure of the gas in kPa? (You must provide an answer before moving to the next
part.)

The pressure of the gas is 115.71 ± 2% kPa.

Explanation:

The pressure of the gas is the total force found in (a) divided by the cross-sectional area of the
piston.

20075.25 N
P= = 1.1571 × 10 5 N·m -2 = 1.1571 × 10 5 Pa = 115.71 kPa
0 . 1735 m 2
The pressure of the gas is 115.71 kPa.

References

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2/26/24, 10:03 AM Assignment Print View

8. Award: 3.18 points

If the gas in the cylinder is heated, it expands, pushing the piston and weight upward. If the piston
and weight are raised 0.83 m, what is the work done by the gas in kJ? What is the change in
potential energy of the piston and weight?

The work done by the gas is 16.662 ± 2% kJ.

The change in potential energy of the piston and weight is 2036.2 ± 2% J.

Explanation:

Since the mass of the piston and the pressure of the atmosphere don’t change in this process, the
pressure of the gas inside the piston is constant as it expands, and the force applied by the piston
and atmosphere to the gas is constant as the gas expands. We can compute the work either as
the pressure times the change in volume or the force times the distance the piston moves. Since
we’ve already computed the force in part (a), the simplest method is to multiply this force by the
distance that the piston travels.

W = Fl = 20075.25 N × 0.83 m = 16.662 kN·m = 16.662 kJ.

The change in potential energy of the piston and weight is

∆ E P = mg ∆ z = 250 kg × 9.813 m·s -2 × 0.83 m = 2036.2 kg·m 2·s -2 = 2036.2 J.

Thus, most of the work done by the gas goes toward ‘pushing back’ the atmosphere, not raising
the piston and weight. This is a result of the fact that most of the pressure being applied to the gas
is due to the atmosphere, and not due to the weight and piston.
The work done by the gas is 16.662 kJ.

The change in potential energy of the piston and weight is 2036.2 J.

References

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2/26/24, 10:03 AM Assignment Print View

The annual average insolation (energy of sunlight per unit area) striking a fixed solar panel in Buffalo,
New York, is 200 W⋅m−2, while in Phoenix, Arizona, it is 270 W⋅m−2. In each location, the solar panel
converts 19% of the incident energy into electricity. Average annual electricity use in Buffalo is 6000
kW⋅h at an average cost of $0.15 kW⋅h, while in Phoenix it is 11,000 kW⋅h at a cost of $0.09 kW⋅h.

References

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2/26/24, 10:03 AM Assignment Print View

9. Award: 3.18 points

In each city, what area of solar panel is needed to meet the average electrical needs of a
residence? (You must provide an answer before moving to the next part.)

The area of solar panel needed in Buffalo is 18 ± 2% m2.

The area of solar panel needed in Phoenix is 24.46 ± 2% m2.

Explanation:

One way to figure this out is to find the annual average usage by taking the total annual usage (in
kW-h) and dividing by the number of hours in a year to get an average usage in kW. For Buffalo,
we have

6000 kWh/yr
= 0. 684 kW
8766 h/yr

In Phoenix, it is

11000 kWh/yr
8766 h/yr
= 1.255 kW.

In Buffalo, we get

0.19 × 200 W·m -2 = 38 W·m -2

of solar panel, while in Phoenix, we get

0.19 × 270 W·m -2 = 51.3 W·m -2.

The total area needed in Buffalo is therefore

684 W
= 18 m 2,
38 W·m -2

while the total area needed in Phoenix is

1255 W
= 24.46 m 2.
51.3 W·m -2

The area of solar panel needed in Buffalo is 18 m2.

The area of solar panel needed in Phoenix is 24.46 m2.

References

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2/26/24, 10:03 AM Assignment Print View

10. Award: 3.18 points

In each city, what is the current average annual cost of electricity? (You must provide an answer
before moving to the next part.)

The current average annual cost of electricity in Buffalo is $ 900 ± 2% .

The current average annual cost of electricity in Phoenix is $ 990 ± 2% .

Explanation:

In Buffalo, it is

6000 kWh × $0.15/kWh = $900.

In Phoenix, it is

11, 000 kWh × $0.09/kWh = $990

he current average annual cost of electricity in Buffalo is $900.

The current average annual cost of electricity in Phoenix is $990.

References

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11. Award: 3.20 points

If the solar panel has a lifetime of 20 years, what price per square meter of solar panel can be
justified in each location? Assume that future increases in electricity prices offset the cost of
borrowing funds for the initial purchase, so that you need not consider the time value of money in
this analysis.

In Buffalo, the total cost should be less than $ 1000 ± 2% per square meter.

In Phoenix, the total cost should be less than $ 809.35 ± 2% per square meter.

Explanation:

Neglecting the time value of money, we need the solar panels in each case to cost less than 20
years worth of electricity. Thus, in Buffalo, we require the total cost to be less than

20 years × $900/year = $18,000

and in Phoenix, we require it be less than

20 years × $990/year = $19,800.

Dividing these by the total area needed in each location gives

Buffalo:

$18,000
= $1000 per square meter
18 m 2

Phoenix:

$19,800
= $809.35 per square meter
24.46 m 2

This must include the total installed cost in each case, not just the panels themselves. Support
structures, power inverters, etc. will be required. Sizing the panels based on average insolation
assumes that electricity can be stored and retrieved for indefinite periods of time at no additional
cost. This might be the case if the local electricity supplier allows the homeowner to feed power
into the grid and be fully credited against any power drawn from the grid at other times (net
metering).
In Buffalo, the total cost should be less than $1000 per square meter.

In Phoenix, the total cost should be less than $809.35per square meter.

References

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