MCL140 Tutorial for Week 1

Problem 1
Background
A barometer is used to measure atmospheric pressure at two different locations: Location A at sea level
and Location B at a higher altitude. We will use water in the barometer and derive the barometric
formula, account for atmospheric corrections using the ideal gas law, temperature dependence, the
effects of surface tension, and the subsequent effect of the barometer tube material.
You have two different barometer tubes made from different types of glass:
1. Glass Type 1: Contact angle with water (𝜽𝟏 ) is 𝟐𝟎 °.
2. Glass Type 2: Contact angle with water (𝜽𝟐 ) is 𝟑𝟎 °.
Available Data
1. Density of water at 20 °𝐶, 𝜌𝑤 =1000 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3
2. Density of mercury at 20 °𝐶, 𝜌𝐻𝑔 = 13595 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3
3. Surface tension of water, 𝛾 = 0.072 𝑁/𝑚
4. Radius of the barometer tube, 𝑟 = 1 𝑐𝑚
5. Acceleration due to gravity, 𝑔 = 9.81 𝑚/𝑠 2
6. Temperature at Location A, 𝑇𝐴 = 25 °𝐶
7. Temperature at Location B, 𝑇𝐵 = 15 °𝐶
8. Thermal expansion coefficient of water, 𝛽𝑤 = 2.07 × 10−4 𝐾 −1
9. Thermal expansion coefficient of mercury, 𝛽𝐻𝑔 = 1.82 × 10−4 𝐾 −1
10. Universal gas constant, 𝑅𝑔 = 8.314 𝐽 𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1 𝐾 −1
11. Molar mass of dry air, 𝑀𝑎 = 29 𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙

Questions
Based on the above premise, answer the following questions,
1. The barometric formula relates the atmospheric pressure at different altitudes. Derive the
barometric formula using the ideal gas law and the hydrostatic equilibrium condition and obtain
the ideal atmospheric pressure at an arbitrary altitude ℎ.
2. Calculate the atmospheric pressure at Location A using the ideal gas law:
i) Determine the pressure at Location A considering the given temperature.
ii) Calculate the height of the mercury column at A, ℎ𝐻𝑔,𝐴.
iii) Use this value to find the equivalent height of the water column that would exert the same
pressure.
3. Calculate the atmospheric pressure at Location B using the ideal gas law:
i) Determine the pressure at Location B considering the given temperature.
ii) Calculate the height of the mercury column at B, ℎ𝐻𝑔,𝐵 .
iii) Use this value to find the equivalent height of the water column that would exert the same
pressure.
4. For a water column barometer, calculate the correction due to surface tension for both types of
glass (you have worked on surface tension while preparing for the JEE):
i) Use the formula for capillary rise,
2𝛾 cos 𝜃
ℎ𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 =
𝜌𝑤 𝑔𝑟
ii) Determine the capillary rise in the water column due to surface tension for both types of
glass at both locations (make a table).
 iii) Adjust the height of the water column at both locations to account for this effect and
recalculate the atmospheric pressure.
5. Calculate the temperature correction for both locations:
i) Account for the temperature dependence of the density of water and mercury at both
locations.
ii) Adjust the calculated atmospheric pressures for temperature variations.
6. Comparison:
i) Calculate the height of a mercury column that would exert the same pressure as the adjusted
height of the water column at both locations for both types of glass.
ii) Compare these heights to find the difference and discuss the implications.

Problem 2
Background
You are tasked with measuring the temperature in an industrial process using two different sensors: a
Copper-Constantan (CuCon) thermocouple and a Platinum RTD (Resistance Temperature Detector).
The measurements need to account for various factors including calibration errors, thermal expansion,
age drift, and the Seebeck effect for the thermocouple. For the RTD, you will use the Wheatstone bridge
concept to determine the resistance and consequently, the temperature. Perform calculations and error
analysis for both sensors.

Available Data
1. Copper-Constantan Thermocouple
i) Measured voltage, 𝐸𝑇𝐶 = 2 𝑚𝑉
ii) Seebeck coefficient, 𝑆 = 40 𝜇𝑉/°𝐶
iii) Quadratic term correction, 𝑎 = 5.0 × 10−6 °𝐶 −2
iv) Age drift (positive incremental), 𝜀𝑑 = 0.1 % per annum
v) Calibration error, 𝜀𝑐 = 0.2 %
2. Platinum RTD
i) Resistance-Temperature Relationship
𝑅(𝑇) = 100(1 + 0.00385𝑇 − 6.02 × 10−7 𝑇 2 )
ii) Wheatstone Bridge configuration, 𝑅1 = 𝑅3 = 100 Ω, 𝑅2 = 150 Ω. 𝑅4 is the unknown
RTD resistance (you know this concept from your JEE days).
 iii) Age drift (positive incremental), 𝜀𝑑 = 0.02 % per annum
iv) Calibration error, 𝜀𝑐 = 0.05 %
v) Coefficient of linear expansion, 𝛼𝑃𝑡 = 9 × 10−6 °𝐶 −1. Hint for use: Remember how a thin
wire’s length changes with temperature? Expand the concept of linear expansion to
resistance change using the basic resistivity formulation.

Questions
Based on the above premise, answer the following questions,
For the Copper-Constantan Thermocouple,
1. Calculate the temperature 𝑇 using the Seebeck effect and quadratic correction (𝐸𝑇𝐶 = 𝑆𝑇 +
𝑎𝑇 2 ).
2. Account for age drift in the thermocouple. Recalculate the temperature considering age drift.
3. Include calibration error in the temperature calculation.
4. Perform an error analysis including calibration error and age drift.
For the Platinum RTD,
1. Wheatstone Bridge Method:
i) Determine the RTD Resistance: Calculate the unknown resistor 𝑅4 in the Wheatstone
bridge. Once you have 𝑅4 , 𝑅𝑅𝑇𝐷 = 𝑅4 .
ii) Calculate the Temperature: Use 𝑅𝑅𝑇𝐷 to find the temperature using the given resistance-
temperature relationship.
2. Account for calibration error in the temperature calculation.
3. Include the effect of length change due to thermal expansion on the RTD measurement.
4. Recalculate the temperature considering age drift.
5. Perform an error analysis including calibration error, expansion coefficients, and age drift.
Analyze your answers and comment on the obtained insights.

Problem 3
Background
Consider the following real-life thermodynamic systems. For each system, identify whether it is a
closed or open system, describe the different thermodynamic states involved, and explain the
processes that transition the system between these states.
1. An internal combustion engine in a car:
i) States: Intake, Compression, Combustion, and Exhaust.
ii) Processes: Identify the nature of each process (e.g., isobaric, isochoric, adiabatic) and
describe how the gas transitions between different states.
2. A Refrigerator:
i) States: Evaporation, Compression, Condensation, and Expansion.
ii) Processes: Explain the processes in the refrigeration cycle and how the refrigerant
transitions between different states.
3. A Human Body During Exercise:
i) States: Rest, Light Exercise, Intense Exercise.
ii) Processes: Discuss the energy exchanges with the environment (heat, work) and the
metabolic processes involved.
4. A Pressure Cooker:
i) States: Initial Heating, Cooking, and Cooling.
 ii) Processes: Describe the phases of water and the pressure changes within the cooker.

Questions
Based on the above description, work through the following questions,
1. An internal combustion engine in a car:
i) Is the car engine a closed or open system? Justify your answer.
ii) Identify and describe the thermodynamic states involved in the car engine cycle.
iii) Explain the nature of each process (intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust) and
how the gas transitions between these states.
2. A Refrigerator:
i) Is the refrigerator a closed or open system? Justify your answer.
ii) Identify and describe the thermodynamic states involved in the refrigeration cycle.
iii) Explain the nature of each process (evaporation, compression, condensation, and
expansion) and how the refrigerant transitions between these states.
3. A Human Body During Exercise:
i) Is the human body during exercise a closed or open system? Justify your answer.
ii) Identify and describe the thermodynamic states involved in the human body during rest,
moderate exercise, and intense exercise.
iii) Explain the nature of the energy exchanges (heat transfer, work done) and metabolic
processes during these states.
4. A Pressure Cooker:
i) Is the pressure cooker a closed or open system? Justify your answer.
ii) Identify and describe the thermodynamic states involved in the pressure cooker cycle
(initial heating, cooking, and cooling).
iii) Explain the phases of water and the pressure changes within the cooker during these
states.

Problem 4
The water in a tank is pressurized by air, and the pressure is measured by a multifluid manometer as
shown in Fig. 1. Determine the gage pressure of air in the tank if

Fig 1
ℎ1 = 0.2 𝑚, ℎ2 = 0.3 𝑚 and ℎ3 = 0.4 𝑚. Take the densities of water, oil, and mercury to be 1000
kg/𝑚3 , 850 kg/𝑚3 , and 13,600 kg/𝑚3 , respectively.
Problem 5
The temperature t on a thermometric scale is defined in terms of a property K by the relation t=a ln K
+b Where a and b are constants. The values of K are found to be 1.83 and 6.78 at the ice point and the
steam point, the temperature of which are assigned the numbers 0 and 100 respectively. Determine the
temperature corresponding to a reading of K equal to 2.42 on the thermometer.

Problem 6
In a constant volume gas thermometer fig 2, the pressure of the working gas is measured by the
difference in the levels of mercury in the two arms of U tube connected to the gas at one [Link] the
bulb is placed at the room temperature 27.0°C , the mercury column in the arm open to atmosphere
stands 5 cm above the level of mercury in the other [Link] the bulb is placed in hot liquid, the
difference of mercury level becomes 45cm. Calculate the temperature of liquid. (Atmospheric pressure
=75cm of mercury)

Fig 2

Problem 7
A gas is contained in a vertical, frictionless piston-cylinder device. The piston has a mass of 4 kg and a
cross-sectional area of 35 cm2. A compressed spring above the piston exerts a force of 60 N on the
piston. If the atmospheric pressure is 95 kPa, determine the pressure inside the cylinder.
Problem 8
Consider the system shown in Fig below. If a change of 0.7 kPa in the pressure of air causes the brine-
mercury interface in the right column to drop by 5 mm in the brine level in the right column while the
pressure in the brine pipe remains constant, determine the ratio A2/A1.

Problem 9
A new scale N of temperature is divided in such a way that the freezing point of ice is 100 degree N
and the boiling point is 400 degree N. What is the temperature reading on this new scale when the
temperature is 150 degree C. At what temperature both the Celsius and the new temperature scale
reading would be same.

Problem 10
A platinum wire is used as a resistance thermometer. The wire resistance was found to be 10 ohm and
16 ohm at ice point and steam point respectively, and 30 ohm at sulphur boiling point of 444.60 C.
Find the resistance of the wire at 500 degree Celsius.

R=𝑅0 (1+αt+β𝑡 2 )