Al-Mustaqbal University 1

Department of Fuel and Energy Techniques 1

Class (2nd)
Subject ( Thermodynamic 1 )
Lecturer (Dr Esam Muhe Mohammed)
1st term – Lect. ( four: Ideal gas equation of state)

8. THE IDEAL-GAS EQUATION OF STATE

A gas is made of molecules that move around with random motion. In a perfect
gas, the molecules may collide, but they have no tendency to stick together or repel
each other. In reality, there is a slight force of attraction between gas molecules,
but this is so small that gas laws formulated for an ideal gas work quite well for a
real gas.
Any equation that relates the pressure, temperature, and specific volume of a
substance is called an equation of state. Property relations that involve other
properties of a substance at equilibrium states are also referred to as equations of
state. There are several equations of state, some simple and others very complex.
The simplest and best-known equation of state for substances in the gas phase is
the ideal-gas equation of state. This equation predicts the (P-υ-T) behavior of a gas
quite accurately within some properly selected region.
Gas and vapor are often used as synonymous words. The vapor phase of a
substance is customarily called a gas when it is above the critical temperature.
Vapor usually implies a gas that is not far from a state of condensation.
In 1662, Robert Boyle, an Englishman, observed during his experiments with a
vacuum chamber that the pressure of gases is inversely proportional to their
volume. In 1802, J. Charles and J. Gay-Lussac, Frenchmen, experimentally
determined that at low pressures the volume of a gas is proportional to its
temperature. That is,
𝑃V = mRT ……………………….(18)
𝑃υ = RT ……………………….(19)
Where:
R: is called the gas constant and it is different for each gas. Table (1) shows the
values of the gas constant for different gases.
P: is the absolute pressure.
T: is the absolute temperature (oK).
V: is the volume (m3)
υ: is the specific volume (m3/kg).

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 Al-Mustaqbal University 2
Department of Fuel and Energy Techniques
Class (2nd)
Subject ( Thermodynamic 1 )
Lecturer (Dr Esam Muhe Mohammed)
1st term – Lect. ( four: Ideal gas equation of state)

Equations (18 and 19) is called the ideal-gas equation of state, or simply the ideal-

gas relation, and a gas that obeys this relation is called an ideal gas. 𝑅=𝑅u/𝑀

𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑀=𝑚/𝑁 …………………………(20)

where 𝑅u: is the universal gas constant.

M: is the molar mass (also called molecular weight) of the gas.

The constant (𝑅𝑢) is the same for all substances, and its value is:

𝑅𝑢 = 8.314 kJ/kmol.oK 𝑅𝑢= 1545.37 ft.lbf/kmol.oR

Boyle’s law states that the pressure of a given mass of an ideal gas is inversely

proportional to its volume at a constant temperature. It is expressed as:

𝑃𝑉 = 𝐶 𝑜𝑟 𝑃1 𝑉1 = 𝑃2 𝑉2 ⇒ 𝑃1 / 𝑃2 = 𝑉2 / 𝑉1 …….(21)

Charles’s law states that the volume of an ideal gas at constant pressure is directly

proportional to the absolute temperature. It is expressed as:

𝑉/𝑇 = 𝐶 𝑜𝑟 𝑉1/𝑇1 = 𝑉2/𝑇2 ……..(22)

Gay-Lussac’s law states that, for a given mass and constant volume of an ideal

gas, the pressure exerted on the sides of its container is directly proportional to its

absolute temperature. It is expressed as:

𝑃/𝑇 = 𝐶 𝑜𝑟 𝑃1/𝑇1 = 𝑃2/𝑇2 …………………(23)

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 Al-Mustaqbal University 3
Department of Fuel and Energy Techniques
Class (2nd)
Subject ( Thermodynamic 1 )
Lecturer (Dr Esam Muhe Mohammed)
1st term – Lect. ( four: Ideal gas equation of state)

Example (4): Determine the mass of the air in a room whose dimensions are (4 m
×5 m × 6 m) at (100 kPa) and (25°C).
Solution:
From Table (1), the gas constant of air is
𝑅= 0.287 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔.o𝐾
𝑇=25+273=298 o𝐾
𝑉=4∗5∗6=120 𝑚3
𝑃𝑉=𝑚𝑅𝑇 ⇒𝑚=𝑃𝑉/𝑅𝑇
𝑚=𝑃𝑉/𝑅𝑇=100∗120 / 0.287∗298=140.3 𝑘𝑔
Example (5): An amount of gas has a pressure of (350 kPa), a volume of (0.03
m3) and a temperature of (35°C). If (R = 0.29 kJ/kg.K), calculate the mass of the
gas and the final temperature if the final pressure is (1.05 MPa) and the volume
remains constant.
Solution:
The absolute temperature:
𝑇1=35 + 273 = 308 o𝐾
𝑃1 𝑉1=𝑚𝑅𝑇1
𝑚=350 × 0.03 / 0.29 × 308 ⇒ 𝑚 = 0.12 𝑘𝑔
Applying the equation of state between two conditions at constant
volume: 𝑃1 /𝑇1=𝑃2 / 𝑇2
350 / 308 = 1.05×103 / 𝑇2 ⇒ 𝑇2=1.05×103∗308 / 350
𝑇2=924 oK

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 Al-Mustaqbal University 4
Department of Fuel and Energy Techniques
Class (2nd)
Subject ( Thermodynamic 1 )
Lecturer (Dr Esam Muhe Mohammed)
1st term – Lect. ( four: Ideal gas equation of state)

Example (6): A tank has a volume of (0.5 m3) and contains (10 kg) of
an ideal gas having a molecular weight of (24). The temperature is
(25 °C). What is the pressure of the gas?
Solution:
The absolute temperature: 𝑇 = 25 + 273 = 298 𝐾
𝑅 =𝑅𝑢 / 𝑀 = 8.314 /24 = 0.35 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔.o𝐾
𝑃𝑉 = 𝑚𝑅𝑇
𝑃 × 0.5 = 10 × 0.35 × 298
𝑃 =10 × 0.35 × 298 / 0.5
𝑃=2086 𝑘𝑃𝑎

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 Al-Mustaqbal University 5
Department of Fuel and Energy Techniques
Class (2nd)
Subject ( Thermodynamic 1 )
Lecturer (Dr Esam Muhe Mohammed)
1st term – Lect. ( four: Ideal gas equation of state)

Home Work (1):

1- A container of (0.2 m3) contains nitrogen at a pressure of (1.013 bar) and at a
temperature of (15 °C). (2 kg) of nitrogen was pumped by a special pump to the
tank. Calculate the new gas pressure when the tank returns to its initial
temperature. Nitrogen was considered an ideal gas, take R = 296.9 J / kg. 0K.
Ans. (1.87 bar)
2- Air in an internal combustion engine has (227°C), (1000 kPa) with a volume of
(0.1 m3). Now combustion heats it to (1500oK) in a constant volume process. What
is the mass of air and how high does the pressure become?
Ans. (0.697 kg, 3000 kPa)
3
3- A rigid tank of 1 m contains nitrogen gas (molecular weight 28) at 600 kPa,
400 oK. By mistake someone lets 0.5 kg flow out. If the final temperature is 375 oK
what is the final pressure?
Ans. (506.9 kPa)
3
4- A (1 m ) rigid tank contains propane (molecular weight 44) at (100 kPa),
(300 oK) and connected by a valve to another tank of (0.5 m3) with propane at
(250 kPa), (400 oK). The valve is opened, and the two tanks come to a uniform
state at (325 oK). What is the final pressure?
Ans. (139.9 kPa)
3
5- (0.1) kg of ideal gas occupies a volume of (0.003 m ) at a pressure of (7 bar) and
a temperature (131 °C) when the gas was expand to a pressure of (1 bar), its final
volume became (0.02 m3). Calculate the final temperature.
Ans. (384.6 oK)
6- Air is at (25 º C) and (101.325 kPa). If the gas constant (R = 287 J / kg. oK), find
the specific volume and the molar mass of this gas, assuming it behaves as an ideal
gas.
Ans. (0.8445 m3/kg, 28.97 kg/kmol)

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 Al-Mustaqbal University 6
Department of Fuel and Energy Techniques
Class (2nd)
Subject ( Thermodynamic 1 )
Lecturer (Dr Esam Muhe Mohammed)
1st term – Lect. ( four: Ideal gas equation of state)

Table (1) Ideal-gas specific heats of various common gases at (300 oK)

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