Solution Manual Introduction to the Thermodynamics of Materials, 7E David R. Gaskell David E. Laughlin Chapters 1-15 Chapter 1
Problem 1.1 The plot of V = V (P, T) for a gas is shown in Fig. 1.1. Determine. the expressions of the two second derivatives of the volume of this plot. (note: the principal curvatures of the surface are proportional to these second derivatives). What are the signs of the curvatures? Explain.
Solution: Start with the defining equations of T and P.
V V T P T
assuming T is constant
2V 2 2 TV > 0 P T V VP T P
assuming is constant
2V 2 2 PV 0 T P Since all terms in the expressions are positive (V, P2 and 2), both principal curvatures are positive. The surface is convex.
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