Republic of the Philippines

North Eastern Mindanao State University

Surigao del Sur
Lianga Campus

PV Diagram

Name: Alexandra Daiane Kate

Eborde
Course & Year: BSED science 2-B
PV Diagram

Introduction:
A PV diagram, also known as a pressure-volume diagram, is a graphical
representation of the changes in pressure and volume of a gas during a
thermodynamic process. It is a useful tool in understanding and analyzing the
behavior of gases, especially in processes such as compression, expansion, and
heat transfer. In a PV diagram, the pressure is represented on the y-axis, while the
volume is represented on the x-axis. The diagram consists of a series of curves or
lines that represent different processes, and the area enclosed by these curves can
provide valuable information about the work done by or on the gas.
PV diagrams are commonly used in the study of thermodynamics and are
particularly helpful in visualizing the changes that occur in a gas as it undergoes
different processes. By analyzing the shape and characteristics of the curves on the
diagram, scientists and engineers can gain insights into the efficiency and
performance of various systems. PV diagrams are widely used in fields such as
engineering, physics, and chemistry to analyze and optimize processes involving
gases, such as internal combustion engines, refrigeration systems, and power
plants. Understanding PV diagrams is essential for studying the behavior of gases
and designing efficient and effective systems.

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the relationship between pressure and volume in a gas by
interpreting and analyzing the curves on a PV diagram.
2. Identify and explain the different processes represented by the curves on a
PV diagram, such as compression, expansion, and heat transfer.
3. Apply the concepts of work done and energy transfer to analyze and calculate
the area enclosed by the curves on a PV diagram.

Abstraction:
In thermodynamics, changes occur to variables like heat, volume, internal
energy, entropy, pressure, and temperature. We can visualize these changes more
easily by making diagrams, which show the relationship between these changes and
the thermodynamic stages of a process. These unique diagrams are known as PV
diagrams (pressure-volume diagrams).
A pressure-volume (PV) diagram is a graphical way of representing the
relationship between the pressure and volume of an ideal gas.
 A PV diagram is drawn for a thermodynamic process occurring in a closed
system, where there is no exchange of matter and energy between the system and
its surroundings.
The relationship between pressure and volume is causal, meaning a change
in one results in a change in the other.

Types of PV Diagram
1. Isobaric – when the gas is held at a constant pressure
2. Isochoric – when the gas is held at a constant volume
3. Isothermal – when the gas is held at a constant temperature
4. Adiabatic – no heat flows in and out of the container
Pressure and Volume Relationship
It has a piston that, upon application of force, moves up and down to expand
and compress the gas. The container, piston, and gas together comprise a
thermodynamic system.

If the piston moves down, the pressure increases, and the volume decreases.
If the piston moves up, the pressure decreases, and the volume increases.
Therefore, an increase in one quantity results in a decrease in the other.

How to Plot PV Diagram

1. Identify the processes in the cycle. How many processes does the gas go
through? Which ones are they?
2. Identify useful relationships between the variables .

Look for relationships such as “the gas doubles its pressure”, “the gas
decreases its temperature”, or “the gas maintains its volume”.

3. Look for keywords, such as compression, expansion, no heat transfer, etc.

These will tell you in which direction your process goes.
4. Calculate any variable that you need. In the states where you don’t have
more information, you can use the gases laws to calculate variables you don’t
know. The remaining variables can give you more information about the
process and its direction.
5. Order your data and draw the cycle. Once you’ve identified all your
processes and have the information on each variable, order them by state.
 For example, state 1 (p1,V1,T1), state 2 (p2,V2,T2), and so on. Finally, draw
the lines that link all states using the processes you identified in step 1.
The basics of PV diagrams
When it comes to drawing basic PV diagrams, there are specific rules you
must follow:

1. The y-axis represents the pressure, and the x-axis represents the volume.
2. Increasing pressure values follow a down-to-up direction, and increasing
volume values follow left to right.
3. An arrow indicates the direction of the processes.

Assessment:
DIRECTION: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write your answer on a separate
sheet.

1. A piston-cylinder device initially contains air at 150 kPa and 27°C. At this state, the
volume is 400 litre. The mass of the piston is such that a 350 kPa pressure is
required to move it. The air is now heated until its volume has doubled. Determine
the total heat transferred to the air.
A. 747kJ
B. 757Kj
C. 767Kj
D. 777 Kj
2. A piston cylinder contains 0.5 kg of air at 500 kPa and 500 K. The air expands in a
process so pressure is linearly decreasing with volume to a final state of 100 kPa
and 300 K. Find the work in the process.
A. 56.1 Kj
B. 66.1 Kj
C. 76.1 Kj
D. 86.1 Kj
3. Which of the following variables controls the physical properties of a perfect gas?
A. pressure
B. temperature
C. volume
D. A, B and C
4. The unit of temperature in S.I. units is?
A. Celcius
B. Fahrenheit
C. Kelvin
D. Rankine
5. A closed system is one in which?
A. mass does not cross boundaries of the system, though energy may do so
B. mass crosses the boundary but not the energy
C. neither mass nor energy crosses the boundaries of the system
D. both energy and mass cross the boundaries of the system
6. Temperature of a gas is produced due to?
A. its heating value
B. kinetic energy of molecules
C. repulsion of molecules
D. attraction of molecules
7. In an isothermal process, the internal energy of gas molecules?
A. increases
B. decreases
C. remains constant
D. shows unpredictable behavior
8. A gas is compressed in a cylinder by a movable piston to a volume one-half its
original volume. During the process 300kJ heat left the gas and internal energy
remained the same. The work done on gas in Nm will be?
A. 300 Nm
B. 300,000 Nm
C. 30 Nm
D. 3000 Nm
9. Isochoric process is one in which
A. free expansion takes place
B. very little mechanical work is done by the system
C. no mechanical work is done by the system
D. all parameters remain constant
10. The first law of thermodynamics states that
A. work done by a system is equal to heat transferred by the system
B. total energy of a system during a process remains constant
C. internal energy, work and heat remains constant
D. total energy of a system remains constant
11. First law of thermodynamics furnishes the relationship between
A. heat and work
B. heat, work and properties of the system
C. various properties of the system
D. various thermodynamic processes
12. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed but can be converted from one form
to another is inferred from
A. zeroth law of thermodynamics B. first law of thermodynamics
C. second law of thermodynamics
D. basic law of thermodynamics
13. In an isothermal process, the internal energy
A. increases
C. remains constant
B. decreases
D. first increases then decreases
14. Change in internal energy in a closed system is equal to heat transferred if the
reversible process takes place at constant
A. pressure
B. temperature
C. volume
D. internal energy
15. Addition of heat at constant pressure to a gas result in
A. raising its temperature
B. raising its pressure
C. raising its volume
D. raising its temperature and doing external work