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Question

Physics Question on Thermodynamics

P-T diagram of an ideal gas having three different densities ρ1,ρ2,ρ3\rho_1, \rho_2, \rho_3 (in three different cases) is shown in the figure. Which of the following is correct:

A

ρ2<ρ3\rho_2 < \rho_3

B

ρ1>ρ2\rho_1 > \rho_2

C

ρ1<ρ2\rho_1 < \rho_2

D

ρ1=ρ2=ρ3\rho_1 = \rho_2 = \rho_3

Answer

ρ1>ρ2\rho_1 > \rho_2

Explanation

Solution

Ideal Gas Equation and Density Relationship:

For an ideal gas, the equation is given by:

PV=nRTPV = nRT

or,

P=nRTVP = \frac{nRT}{V}

where PP is the pressure, TT is the temperature, RR is the gas constant, nn is the number of moles, and VV is the volume.

We can express PP in terms of density ρ\rho by substituting ρ=mV\rho = \frac{m}{V}, where mm is the mass of the gas:

P=ρRTMP = \frac{\rho RT}{M}

where MM is the molar mass of the gas. Rearranging, we get:

ρ=PMRT\rho = \frac{PM}{RT}

Analyze the PT Graph for Different Densities:

Since ρ=PMRT\rho = \frac{PM}{RT}, for a given temperature TT, the density ρ\rho of the gas is directly proportional to the pressure PP:

ρP\rho \propto P

Therefore, at the same temperature, a higher pressure indicates a higher density.

Interpretation of the PT Diagram:

In the given PT diagram, we observe that:

P1>P2>P3P_1 > P_2 > P_3 for the same temperature TT

Therefore, based on the proportional relationship ρP\rho \propto P at constant temperature, we have:

ρ1>ρ2>ρ3\rho_1 > \rho_2 > \rho_3

Conclusion:

The correct statement is: ρ1>ρ2\rho_1 > \rho_2 which corresponds to Option (2).