Two systems merging, what is final temp?

samedi 2 novembre 2013

Hi all,

I just want to see if my work is correct because it's not matching the answer in the book:

A tank has a volume of 0.1 [itex]m^3[/itex] and is filled with He gas at a pressure of [itex]5x10^6[/itex] Pa. A second tank has a volume of 0.15 [itex]m^3[/itex] and is filled with He gas at a pressure of [itex]6x10^6[/itex] Pa. A valve connecting the two tanks is opened...

(My problem references this question and asks...)

If the temperatures within the two tanks before opening the valve, had been T = 300K and 350 K respectively, what would the final temperature be?

So what I did was utilize this equation:

[tex]

U = cNRT

[/tex]

to find the energies of each. Based off of the 'adiabatic and rigid' statement given I know no energy is lost to heat flow or work on the walls.

I get energies for the respective systems of 3741 J and 4365 J. Adding those together I get 8106.

Now I just plug that number back into the former equation (this time manipulated):

[tex]

T = \frac{U}{cNR}

[/tex]

And I'm getting a temp of 324.9 K. The book says 330 K. Need some help, am I wrong or is this a misprint?

Thanks.