10.213 Fall 1999

Problem 1 (due Friday, September 10th)

Consider a piston weighing 990 g which contains 10 g of air at 1 atmosphere and 25 °C. Calculate the effects of performing 100 J of work on this air-containing piston for the following three situations. State any assumptions and show all units.

  1. Find the maximum possible final elevation if all the work is used to raise the cylinder and its contents vertically.

  2.  
  3. Find the maximum possible final velocity if all the work is used to accelerate the cylinder and its contents.

  4.  
  5. Find the maximum possible pressure of air if the piston is compressed isothermally. Assume the ideal gas law is valid. The composition of air is approximately 80% N2 and 20% O2.