Finding the polytropic index ‘n’ for adiabatic

and isothermal compression report

1) Introduction and Aim:

A Fluid’s internal heat energy and temperature change in a conserved system depends
on the rate of expansion and compression. An adiabatic prosses can be simulated by a
rapid change in the volume, since it doesn’t allow enough time for heat exchange
between the system and the environment (McNairy,1996) therefore by following first
law of thermodynamics, (Anon, n.d.)
∆𝑄 = ∆𝑢 + 𝑤 (formula 1)
∆𝑢 = 𝑤 in an ideal adiabatic prosses. However, to simulate an isothermal prosses a
slow change in volume is required to allow heat transfer and thus isothermal
equilibrium between every volume change (McNairy,1996). This lab focuses on
finding the value of the polytropic index (n) of air for both adiabatic and isothermal
compression by following Boyle's law.
𝑝𝑣𝑛 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡. (Formula 2).
𝑝:pressure
𝑣:volume
The polytropic index identified the path prosses of a fluid. if n tends to 1 then the
prosses is isothermal, if n=0 then the pressure is constant, if n=∞ the volume is
constant, and if n=1.4 the prosses is adiabatic. Moreover, from formula 2 the work
done on (energy used to compress) and by a gas (energy exerted by the gas during
expansion) can be calculated by integrating with respect to volume (Pessu,2019).

1) Apparatus and Methodology:

lever

piston

Cylinder (gas chamber) Gas taps

Wires connected to the computer

Fig. 1 shows the apparatus used which is a pressure probe, temperature probe, and
position gauge that are linked to a computer and ran by LabVIEW to acquire the data
to then be analyzed. (Pessu,2020)
  To record the data: First the labview program was opened. secondly the
chamber (cylinder) was filled with air by opening the taps and pulling the
lever upwards to its maximum then the taps were closed tightly. Before
pushing the lever downwards “start” on the front panel of the program was
clicked and for an adiabatic prosses the lever was pushed downward suddenly
and fast while for an isothermal prosses the lever was pushed downward with
a slow rate. After every recording the data was saved into an excel
spreadsheet. The process was repeated 4 times for every prosses.

 Converting the recorded values: Labview records the data in voltages

therefore the data was converted to the appropriate unites by following the
conversions specific for the used device.

𝑃 = 100 × 𝑉𝑃 (𝑖𝑛 𝐾𝑃𝑎)

𝑣 = 3.31 × 10>5 × 𝑉𝑣 + 8.41 × 10>5 (𝑚D)
𝑇 = 66.17 × 𝑉𝑇 + 236.7 (𝐾)

 Finding the linear equation: in order to find “n” formula 1was converted to a
linear equation hence make “n” the gradient of the line by taking the log of
both sides from formula 2.

𝑝𝑣𝑛 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡. (Formula 2).

𝑝 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡K𝑣𝑛

logOP 𝑝 = logOP(𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡K𝑣𝑛)

logOP 𝑝 = logOP 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 − logOP 𝑣𝑛

logOP 𝑝 = − nlogOP 𝑣 + logOP 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 (equation 1)

2) Results:
log(P) vs log(v) Equations of the lines
2.6
adiobatic compression test 1
adiobatic compression test 2
2.5 adiobatic compression test 3
adiobatic compression test 4

2.4 isothermal compression test 1

isothermal compression test 2
log(P) KPa

isothermal compression test 3

2.3
isothermal compression test 4

2.2
 2.1
Linear (adiobatic compression test 1)
Linear (adiobatic compression test 2)
2 Linear (adiobatic compression test 3)
-4.1 -4 -3.9 -3.8 -3.7 -3.6
Linear (adiobatic compression test 4)
log(v) m3
Linear (isothermal compression test 1)
Linear (isothermal compression test 2)
Linear (isothermal compression test 3)
Linear (isothermal compression test 4)

Fig.2 Linear graph showing the variation of log(P) in KPa as a function of log(v) m3 and
presenting their linear equations.

polytropic index "n"

1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
n

0.2
0

1.324 0.987
adiabatic compression isothermal compression

Fig.3 Bar graph showing the average value of n for all 4 tests and the error range.
 pressure and temperature vs time
410
390

340 390
test 1 pressure
290 370 test 2 pressure test3 pressure test 4 pressure

temperature K
pressure KPa

test 1 temperature
test 2 temperature
240 350 3 temperature
test
test 4 temperature
190 330

140 310

90290
00.51 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
time s

Fig.4 graph showing the variation of pressure in KPa and temperature in K as a

function of time in seconds for the adiabatic tests.

 Additional calculations:

p vs v adiabatic compression test 1

y = 0.0018x-1.308
adiabatic compression test 2
340 y = 0.001x-1.366
adiabatic compression test 3
y = 0.0018x-1.31
290 adiabatic compression test 4
y = 0.0017x-1.312
pressure in KPa

isothermal compression test 1

240
y = 0.027x-0.984
isothermal compression test 2
y = 0.0286x-0.978
190

140
isothermal compression test 3
y = 0.0264x-0.986
90
0.00009 0.00011 0.00013 0.00015 0.00017 0.00019 0.00021 0.00023 0.00025isothermal compression test 4
volume m3 y = 0.0235x-0.998

Fig.5 graph showing the variation of pressure in KPa as a function of volume in m3

𝑣i
work done on the gas: 𝑊 = ∫ 𝑝 𝑑𝑣 (formula 3).
𝑣W
 ∴ the equations of the curves on the P vs v graph (fig.5) were integrated.

Sample calculation for work done : adiabatic test 1

𝑣P.PPPZDPZO×OP[ P.P
𝑊= ∫PPP\O5D]55^\×OP[ 0.0018v − 1.308 𝑑𝑣 = 25.336 J

work done on the gas (J)

adiabatic compression isothermal compression
test 1 25.336 17.083
test 2 20.214 15.183
test 3 25.941 14.647
test 4 22.224 14.833
mean 23.429 15.437
Fig.6 table showing the work done on the gas in J (values are rounded to three significant
figures).

3) Discussion:
n theoretical percentage error in %
adiabatic compression 1.4 5.429
isothermal compression 1 1.3
%error = (|𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 − 𝑛 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙|⁄𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙)x100
Fig.7 Table showing the percentage error of the experimental results for n with n for ideal
gases.

The percentage error of the results for both polytropic indicia of adiabatic and isothermal
compression are 5.429% and 1.3% respectively(fig.7); both are less than 6% when being
compared to their theoretical values hence, making them reliable. however, to decrease the
error a slower and more consistent rate of compression is required for the isothermal prosses
and a faster compression for adiabatic which can be achieved by using a programmed /
motorized piston. Moreover, increasing the insulation of the chamber can improve the results
for the adiabatic prosses since it decreases heat loss.

Fig.3 shows a small error range of 0.0263 and 0.0029 for adiabatic and isothermal
compression respectively thus n was approximately constant within the 4-test conducted for
the two different compressions of an average of 1.324 and 0.987 for adiabatic and isothermal
respectively. This means that by calculating a polytropic index the condition that a gas is
being subjected to can be determined.

During the adiabatic test a work of 23.429J was done on the gas to be compressed which is
significantly greater than the isothermal compression 15.437J (fig.7). This means that
preventing the spontaneous prosses of heat moving from a hotter(chamber) to cooler area
(environment) requires more work to be done. Since in an adiabatic condition a prevention of
entropy change is required while in an isothermal it encourages entropy and heat exchange.
This proves that entropy is not easily conservable.

The graphs on fig. 2 and on fig. 5 show that pressure and volume are always inversely related
which satisfied Boyle’s law (Hill and Moore, 1965) ,(formula 2) were in a closes system
when there is a decrease in volume the pressure will increase no matter the prosses a gas is
being subjected to, however the amount of pressure varies depending on the prosses path; in
adiabatic since there is temperature increase(fig.4) therefore the final pressure will be greater
than that of isothermal.
Both prosses studied oppose each other in terms of temperature where in adiabatic ,the
temperature increases as pressure does (fig.4) ∴ 𝑝𝑣𝑛 = 𝑅𝑇 ≠ 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 (Hill and Moore,
1965) this increase is due to the increase in the particles’ kinetic energy as the volume
decreases (increase in work done on the gas) and not having enough time to undergo heat
exchange ∴ ∆𝑢 = 𝑤 . however, in isothermal to prevent the internal energy to increase and
consequently the temperature as the work done on the gas increases the system will let out
more heat to keep a thermal equilibrium ∴ ∆𝑄 = 𝑤.

4) Conclusion:
Pressure and volume are inversely proportional and in an adiabatic compression the pressure
is greater than that of an isothermal due to temperature increase. Moreover, ‘n’ indicates the
process path of a gas however getting an ideal prosses path isn’t realistic since spontaneous
prosses are prone to take place. Finally, to decrease heat exchange in compression a greater
energy (work done) needs to be exerted on the gas.
References:
Anon n.d. Energy, Enthalpy, and the First Law of Thermodynamics. [Accessed 26
February 2020]. Available from:
https://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch21/chemical.php#first.

Hill, D.W. and MOORE, V. 1965. Chelsea College of Science and

Technology. Nature. 37(19), pp.20–22.

McNairy, W. 1996. Isothermal and adiabatic measurements. The Physics Teacher. 34(3),
pp.178–180.

Pessu, F. 2019. First law of thermodynamics. Lecture notes distributed in 1215

Thermodynamics. 30 September, University of Leeds.

Pessu, F. 2020. Thermodynamics Lab 2. Word document. 1215 Thermodynamics. University

of Leeds.