Heat-Capacity Ratios for Gases

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering molecular degrees of freedom, classical equipartition theory, thermodynamics, and experimental adiabatic expansion calculations for heat-capacity ratios.

What is Heat-Capacity Ratio Formula? ($\gamma$)

$\gamma = \frac{C_P}{C_V}$.

What’s the objective of this experiment?

Determine the heat capacity ratio for 3 different gases

Adiabatic Expansion

A thermodynamic process where no heat is lost between gas and sourroundings

What is q for an adiabatic process?

$$q \approx 0$$

What is the molar heat capacity for an ideal gas?

Cpm = Cvm + R

What is the formula for Cpm?

Cpm = Cp/n

What is the formula for Cvm?

Cvm = CV / n

What is n?

number of moles

Degree of Freedom

An independent coordinate or motion through which a molecule can move or store thermal energy, totaling $3N$ degrees of freedom for a molecule with $N$ atoms.

Molecular degrees of freedom are classified as?

translational, rotational, and vibrational

Every molecule has ___ _____ degrees of freedom

3 translational

The number of vibrational degrees of freedom formula is _____ for linear molecules

3n - 5

What are the vibrational degrees of freedom for a linear CO2 molecule?

N = 3
3(3) - 5 = 4

The number of vibrational degrees of freedom formula is _____ for non-linear molecules

3n - 6

What are the vibrational degrees of freedom for a non-linear H2O molecule?

3(3) - 6

=3 modes

What are the $3$ independent modes of motion describing the displacement

x, y, z