Physics HL
Physics HL
5
Chapters
329
Notes
Theme A - Space, Time & Motion
Theme A - Space, Time & Motion
Theme B - The Particulate Nature Of Matter
Theme B - The Particulate Nature Of Matter
Theme C - Wave Behaviour
Theme C - Wave Behaviour
Theme D - Fields
Theme D - Fields
Theme E - Nuclear & Quantum Physics
Theme E - Nuclear & Quantum Physics
IB Resources
Theme B - The Particulate Nature Of Matter
Physics HL
Physics HL

Theme B - The Particulate Nature Of Matter

Pressure-Volume Diagrams: Visualizing Gas Work & Processes

Word Count Emoji
638 words
Reading Time Emoji
4 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited on 5th Nov 2024

Table of content

Basics of pressure-volume diagrams

  • There are 3 main graphs from our gas law study:

    • Pressure vs. Volume (P-V) 📉
    • Pressure vs. Temperature 📈
    • Volume vs. Temperature 📊
  • These graphs help us understand gas processes, i.e., changes in the conditions of a gas.

🤔 Real-World Example: Think of a balloon. As you blow air into it (increasing its volume), it stretches and the pressure inside increases. If you place it in a freezer, the cold causes the air inside to shrink (reducing volume)!

Gas trapped in a cylinder

  • Picture a cylinder with a piston and gas trapped inside.
  • When the gas expands, it moves the piston upwards by a distance Δx.

🌍 Real-World Example: This is like a bicycle pump. When you push down, the air is compressed and then released with pressure into your bike tire!

Indicator diagrams in engineering physics

  • P-V graphs aren’t just fancy squiggly lines! Engineers use them to study steam engines and internal combustion engines.
  • History Fun Fact: James Watt & John Southern, during the early days of steam engines, and Émile Clapeyron in 1834, used P-V diagrams. These pioneers were the OG engineers!

Thermodynamics 101

  • The first law of thermodynamics (don't worry, it's not as scary as it sounds) simply states: W = + PΔV.
  • When gas expands at constant pressure, the work done is represented by the area below a line on the P-V graph.

🚗 Real-World Example: Ever wondered about the 'vroom' in your car? Well, that’s your car’s engine doing work, and this can be visualized on a P-V graph!

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IB Resources
Theme B - The Particulate Nature Of Matter
Physics HL
Physics HL

Theme B - The Particulate Nature Of Matter

Pressure-Volume Diagrams: Visualizing Gas Work & Processes

Word Count Emoji
638 words
Reading Time Emoji
4 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited on 5th Nov 2024

Table of content

Basics of pressure-volume diagrams

  • There are 3 main graphs from our gas law study:

    • Pressure vs. Volume (P-V) 📉
    • Pressure vs. Temperature 📈
    • Volume vs. Temperature 📊
  • These graphs help us understand gas processes, i.e., changes in the conditions of a gas.

🤔 Real-World Example: Think of a balloon. As you blow air into it (increasing its volume), it stretches and the pressure inside increases. If you place it in a freezer, the cold causes the air inside to shrink (reducing volume)!

Gas trapped in a cylinder

  • Picture a cylinder with a piston and gas trapped inside.
  • When the gas expands, it moves the piston upwards by a distance Δx.

🌍 Real-World Example: This is like a bicycle pump. When you push down, the air is compressed and then released with pressure into your bike tire!

Indicator diagrams in engineering physics

  • P-V graphs aren’t just fancy squiggly lines! Engineers use them to study steam engines and internal combustion engines.
  • History Fun Fact: James Watt & John Southern, during the early days of steam engines, and Émile Clapeyron in 1834, used P-V diagrams. These pioneers were the OG engineers!

Thermodynamics 101

  • The first law of thermodynamics (don't worry, it's not as scary as it sounds) simply states: W = + PΔV.
  • When gas expands at constant pressure, the work done is represented by the area below a line on the P-V graph.

🚗 Real-World Example: Ever wondered about the 'vroom' in your car? Well, that’s your car’s engine doing work, and this can be visualized on a P-V graph!

Unlock the Full Content! File Is Locked Emoji

Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Physics HL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟

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