PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS

INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 01: Review of Basic Thermodynamics

LEARNING
MODULE 01:
Review of Basic
Thermodynamics

AE 411 – Aerodynamics 3

Prepared by:
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING FACULTY

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 01: Review of Basic Thermodynamics

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page
Perfect Gas 4
Sample Problems – Equation of State 5
Internal Energy 8
Enthalpy 9
Sample Problems – Specific Heat 11
Practice Problems 14

TIME COMMITMENT FOR THIS MODULE

Reading Material Time
Perfect Gas
25 mins
Sample Problems – Equation of State
Internal Energy 10 mins
Enthalpy
25 mins
Sample Problems – Specific Heat
Activity
Practice Problems 60 mins
Assessment
Assessment 30 mins
Recitation 30 mins
Video Meeting
Online Lecture 60 mins

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 01: Review of Basic Thermodynamics

This module discusses perfect gas, equation of state, and different thermodynamic
quantities that are related to supersonic aerodynamics.

ACADEMIC HONESTY STATEMENT

As students, you are expected to perform tasks with intellectual and academic
integrity. The college assumes basic standard of conduct in academic requirements
that students will comply with honesty and will be credited only for their own efforts.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Course Learning Outcome (CLO)

CLO 1. Valuing the study of
supersonic aerodynamics and its Module Learning Outcome (MLO)
application on the aviation industry.. Topic Learning Outcome
CLO 2. Review basic thermodynamics MLO 1. Evaluate temperature, (TLO)
and aerodynamics by recalling pressure and density using the
concepts and equations.. equation of state. TLO 1. Explain perfect gas and
CLO 3. Evaluate the properties of MLO 2. Quantify specific heat other thermodynamic terms by
air by utilizing thermodynamic diagram and definition.
constants using the derived
equations..
formula from equation of state and TLO 2. Solve gas properties using
CLO 8. Display professional enthalpy. the equation of state.
commitment to ethical practice by
TLO 3. Derive equation for specific
showing sense of responsibility in
complying and compiling academic heat constants using
requirement. thermodynamic equations.
CLO 9. Have adequate knowledge on
Compressible Flows
CLO 10. Have adequate knowledge
on Shock wave formation and
effects.

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 01: Review of Basic Thermodynamics

PERFECT GAS

A gas is described as a collection of particles which move randomly. These particles

have electronic structure; as a result, a force field pervades the space around them.
This force field is called intermolecular force and it is due to one particle reaches out
or interacts with neighboring particles. Now, a perfect gas is gas in which the
intermolecular forces are neglected because the particles of the gas are far enough
that the influence of the intermolecular forces is small.

For a perfect gas, p (pressure),  (density), and T (temperature) are related through
the following equation of state:

pV = mRT
p = RT
pѵ= RT

R is the specific gas constant, which varies from different value for different gases.
For standard conditions, R = 287.08 J/kg.K = 1716 ft.lb/slug.ºR. The specific volume,
which is denoted by “ѵ”, is the mass per unit volume. (ѵ = 1/)

Manipulation of equations
For the density:
𝑝 = 𝜌𝑅𝑇 → 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒
𝑝 𝜌𝑅𝑇
= → 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑦 𝑅𝑇 𝑡𝑜 𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝜌
𝑅𝑇 𝑅𝑇
𝑝 𝜌𝑅𝑇
= → 𝑅𝑇 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑅𝑇 𝑅𝑇

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 01: Review of Basic Thermodynamics

𝒑
𝝆 = → 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦
𝑹𝑻

For the temperature:

𝑝 = 𝜌𝑅𝑇 → 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒
𝑝 𝜌𝑅𝑇
= → 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑦 𝜌𝑅 𝑡𝑜 𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑇
𝜌𝑅 𝜌𝑅
𝑝 𝜌𝑅𝑇
= → 𝜌𝑅 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝜌𝑅 𝜌𝑅
𝒑
𝑻= → 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒
𝝆𝑹

System of units
Listed here are the units for English and Metric unit systems. Use this as a guide to
avoid confusion in what units to use in answering problems.

Metric: English:

p = Pa (N/m2) p = lb/in2

V = m3 V = ft3

m = kg m = slug

R = J/kg.K R = ft.lb/slug. ºR

T=K T = ºR

 = kg/m3  = slug/ft3

Sample Problems
1. An aircraft is flying at an altitude where the temperature is 216.66 K and the
pressure is 100000 Pa. What is the density at that altitude, assuming that the value
of R is at standard condition?

Given: T = 216.66 K

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 01: Review of Basic Thermodynamics

P = 100000 Pa
R = 287.08 J/kg.K

Required:  = ?
Solution:
𝑝 = 𝜌𝑅𝑇

𝑝 𝜌𝑅𝑇
=
𝑅𝑇 𝑅𝑇
𝑝 𝜌𝑅𝑇
=
𝑅𝑇 𝑅𝑇
𝑝 100000 𝑃𝑎
𝜌 = =
𝑅𝑇 𝐽
287.08 𝑥 216.66 𝐾
𝑘𝑔. 𝐾

𝒌𝒈
𝝆 = 𝟏. 𝟔𝟎𝟕𝟕
𝒎𝟑

2. The temperature and density at an altitude are 273 K and 1.225 kg/m 3,
respectively. If the R is assumed to be at standard condition, what is the pressure
there?

Given: T = 273 K
 = 1.225 kg/m3
R = 287.08 J/kg.K

Required: p = ?
Solution:
𝑝 = 𝜌𝑅𝑇

𝑘𝑔 𝐽
𝑝 = 1.225 3
𝑥 287.08 𝑥 273 𝐾
𝑚 𝑘𝑔. 𝐾

𝒑 = 𝟗𝟔𝟎𝟎𝟔. 𝟕𝟐𝟗 𝑷𝒂

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 01: Review of Basic Thermodynamics

3. An aircraft is flying at an altitude where the pressure and density are 2110 psf and
0.0021 slug/ft3, respectively. What is the temperature if the specific gas constant is
equal to 1716 ft.lb/slug.ºR?

Given: p = 2110 psf

 = 0.0021 slug/ft3
R = 1716 ft.lb/slug.ºR

Required: T = ?
Solution:
𝑝 = 𝜌𝑅𝑇

𝑝 𝜌𝑅𝑇
=
𝜌𝑅 𝜌𝑅

𝑝 𝜌𝑅𝑇
=
𝜌𝑅 𝜌𝑅

𝑝 2110 𝑝𝑠𝑓
𝑇= =
𝜌𝑅 slug ft. lb
0.0021 3 x 1716
𝑓𝑡 slug. °R

𝑻 = 𝟓𝟖𝟓. 𝟓𝟐𝟓𝟔 °𝐑

4. An aircraft is flying at an altitude where the temperature is 500 ºR and the

pressure is 2200 psf. If specific gas constant is equal to 1716 ft.lb/slug.ºR, what is
the density and specific volume at that altitude?

Given: p = 2200 psf

T = 500 ºR
R = 1716 ft.lb/slug.ºR

Required:  = ?
Solution:
𝑝 = 𝜌𝑅𝑇

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 01: Review of Basic Thermodynamics

𝑝 𝜌𝑅𝑇
=
𝑅𝑇 𝑅𝑇
𝑝 𝜌𝑅𝑇
=
𝑅𝑇 𝑅𝑇

𝑝 2200 𝑝𝑠𝑓
𝜌 = =
𝑅𝑇 𝑓𝑡. 𝑙𝑏
1716 𝑥 500 °𝑅
𝑠𝑙𝑢𝑔. °𝑅

𝒔𝒍𝒖𝒈
𝝆 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟐𝟓𝟔𝟒
𝒇𝒕𝟑

1 1
𝑣= =
𝜌 𝑠𝑙𝑢𝑔
0.00256410256
𝑓𝑡 3

𝒇𝒕𝟑
𝒗 = 𝟑𝟗𝟎
𝒔𝒍𝒖𝒈

INTERNAL ENERGY
Consider air molecules moving through space in a random manner. Occasionally,
these molecules will collide with each other. Because of its velocity through space,
the molecule has translational kinetic energy. In addition to its translational motion,
such a molecule can execute a rotational motion in space; the kinetic energy of this
rotation contributes to the net energy of the molecule. Also, the atoms of a given
molecule can vibrate back and forth along and across the molecular axis, thus
contributing a potential and kinetic energy of vibration to the molecule. Finally, the
motion of the electrons around each of the nuclei of the molecule contributes an
electronic energy to the molecule. Hence, the energy of a given molecule is the sum
of its translational, rotational, vibrational, and electronic energies.

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 01: Review of Basic Thermodynamics

Now consider a finite volume of gas consisting of a large number of molecules. The
sum of the energies of all the molecules in this volume is defined as the internal
energy of the gas. The internal energy per unit mass of gas is defined as the specific
internal energy, denoted by “e”.

ENTHALPY
Enthalpy (H) is a related quantity to internal energy. Specific enthalpy (h) can be
defined as the total energy due to pressure and temperature per unit mass and
described by the formula,
h = e + pV
For a perfect gas, remember that both h and e are functions of temperature only.
e= e(T)
h= h(T)
Now, let de and dh represent differentials of e and h. Then, for a perfect gas,
de = cvdT
dh = cpdT
cp and cv are called the specific heats at constant pressure and constant volume,
respectively. In the equations above, cp and cv can be functions of T. However, for
moderate temperatures, the specific heats can be considered constant. A perfect
gas where cv and cp are constants is defined as a calorically perfect gas, for which it
can be represented as
e = cvT

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 01: Review of Basic Thermodynamics

h = cpT
Note that e and h in the above equations are thermodynamic state variables, it
means that they depend only on the state of the gas and are independent of any
process. Although cv and cp appear in those equations, there is no restriction to just
a constant volume or a constant pressure process. Rather, those equations are
relations for thermodynamic state variables, namely, e and h as functions of T, and
have nothing to do with the process that may be taking place.

Specific gas, cp and cv can be related by deriving formula from enthalpy and
equation of state.
1. h = e + pV
2. pV = mRT

h = e + pV; pV = RT
h = e + RT
dh = de + RdT
cpdT = cvdT + RdT
(cpdT)/dT = (cvdT)/dT + (RdT)/dT
cp = c v + R

The specific heat ratio (k) of a gas is the ratio of the specific heat at constant
pressure, cp, to the specific heat at constant volume, cv. It is sometimes referred to
as the adiabatic index or the heat capacity ratio or the isentropic expansion factor or
the adiabatic exponent or the isentropic exponent.

k = cp/cv

cp = cv + R ; k = cp/cv
kcv = cv + R
kcv – cv = R
cv(k-1) = R
cv = R/(k-1)

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 01: Review of Basic Thermodynamics

cp = cp/k + R
cp – cp/k = R
cp[(k-1)/k] = R
cp = kR/(k-1)

Sample Problems
1. The specific heat ratio of a gas is 1.38 and is at standard condition. Compute for
cp and cv using metric units.

Given: k = 1.38
Required: cv, cp= ?
Solution:
𝑅
𝑐𝑣 =
𝑘−1
𝐽
287.08
𝑘𝑔. 𝐾
𝑐𝑣 =
1.38 − 1
𝑱
𝒄𝒗 = 𝟕𝟓𝟓. 𝟒𝟕𝟑𝟕
𝒌𝒈. 𝑲
𝑘𝑅
𝑐𝑝 =
𝑘−1
𝐽
1.4 𝑥 287.08
𝑘𝑔. 𝐾
𝑐𝑝 =
1.38 − 1
𝑱
𝒄𝒑 = 𝟏𝟎𝟓𝟕. 𝟔𝟔𝟑𝟐
𝒌𝒈. 𝑲

2. The specific heat at constant pressure of air is 1007 J/kg.K. If the air is at standard
condition, what is the specific heat ratio?

Given: cp = 1007 J/kg.K

R = 287.08 J/kg.K

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 01: Review of Basic Thermodynamics

Required: k = ?
Solution:
𝑘𝑅
𝑐𝑝 =
𝑘−1
𝑐𝑝 (𝑘 − 1) = 𝑘𝑅
𝑐𝑝 𝑘 − 𝑐𝑝 = 𝑘𝑅
𝑐𝑝 𝑘 − 𝑘𝑅 = 𝑐𝑝
𝑘(𝑐𝑝 − 𝑅) = 𝑐𝑝
𝑐𝑝
𝑘=
𝑐𝑝 − 𝑅
𝐽
1007
𝑘𝑔. 𝐾
𝑘=
𝐽 𝐽
1007 − 287.08
𝑘𝑔. 𝐾 𝑘𝑔. 𝐾
𝒌 = 𝟏. 𝟑𝟗𝟖𝟖

3. A gas has a specific heat at constant volume of 4500 ft.lb/slug.ºR. If the specific
gas constant of the gas is 1716 ft.lb/slug.ºR, what is the specific heat ratio and
specific heat at constant pressure?

Given: cv = 6009 ft.lb/slug.ºR

R = 1716 ft.lb/slug.ºR
Required: k, cp = ?
Solution:
𝑅
𝑐𝑣 =
𝑘−1

𝑐𝑣 (𝑘 − 1) = 𝑅

𝑐𝑣 𝑘 − 𝑐𝑣 = 𝑅

𝑐𝑣 𝑘 = 𝑅 + 𝑐𝑣

𝑅 + 𝑐𝑣
𝑘=
𝑐𝑣

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 01: Review of Basic Thermodynamics

𝑓𝑡. 𝑙𝑏 𝑓𝑡. 𝑙𝑏
1716 + 4500
𝑠𝑙𝑢𝑔. °𝑅 𝑠𝑙𝑢𝑔. °𝑅
𝑘=
𝑓𝑡. 𝑙𝑏
4500
𝑠𝑙𝑢𝑔. °𝑅

𝒌 = 𝟏. 𝟑𝟖𝟏𝟑

𝑐𝑝 = 𝑐𝑣 + 𝑅

𝑓𝑡. 𝑙𝑏 𝑓𝑡. 𝑙𝑏
𝑐𝑝 = 4500 + 1716
𝑠𝑙𝑢𝑔. °𝑅 𝑠𝑙𝑢𝑔. °𝑅

𝒇𝒕. 𝒍𝒃
𝒄𝒑 = 𝟔𝟐𝟏𝟔
𝒔𝒍𝒖𝒈. °𝑹

4. The specific heat ratio of a gas is 1.42. Assuming that the air is at standard
condition, what is the cp and cv of the gas in English units?

Given: k = 1.42
Required: cp, cv = ?
Solution:
𝑘𝑅
𝑐𝑝 =
𝑘−1

𝑓𝑡. 𝑙𝑏
1.42 𝑥 1716
𝑠𝑙𝑢𝑔. °𝑅
𝑐𝑝 =
1.42 − 1

𝒇𝒕. 𝒍𝒃
𝒄𝒑 = 𝟓𝟖𝟎𝟏. 𝟕𝟏𝟒𝟑
𝒔𝒍𝒖𝒈. °𝑹

𝑅
𝑐𝑣 =
𝑘−1

𝑓𝑡. 𝑙𝑏
1716
𝑠𝑙𝑢𝑔. °𝑅
𝑐𝑣 =
1.42 − 1

𝒇𝒕. 𝒍𝒃
𝒄𝒗 = 𝟒𝟎𝟖𝟓. 𝟕𝟏𝟒𝟑
𝒔𝒍𝒖𝒈. °𝑹

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 01: Review of Basic Thermodynamics

Practice Problems
Solve for the following problems. Show your complete solution. Round off your
answer to 4 decimal places. Box your final answer. Submit your work using Google
Classroom, under the specific classwork.

1. An aircraft is flying at an altitude where the pressure and density are 1995 psf and
0.0026 slug/ft3, respectively. What is the temperature if the specific gas constant is
equal to 1716 ft.lb/slug.ºR?

2. An aircraft is flying at an altitude where the temperature is 450 ºR and the

pressure is 2100 psf. If specific gas constant is equal to 1716 ft.lb/slug.ºR, what is
the density and specific volume at that altitude?

3. An aircraft is flying at an altitude where the temperature is 290 K and the pressure
is 120000 Pa. What is the density at that altitude, assuming that the value of R is at
standard condition?

4. The temperature and density at an altitude are 300 K and 1.5 kg/m 3, respectively.
If the R is assumed to be at standard condition, what is the pressure there?

5. The specific heat ratio of a gas is 1.3. Assuming that the air is at standard
condition, what is the cp and cv of the gas in english units?

6. The specific heat ratio of a gas is 1.45 and is at standard condition. Compute for
cp and cv using metric units.

7. A gas has a specific heat at constant volume of 4825 ft.lb/slug.ºR. If the specific
gas constant of the gas is 1716 ft.lb/slug.ºR, what is the specific heat ratio and
specific heat at constant pressure?

8. The specific heat at constant pressure of a gas is 1078 J/kg.K. If the specific gas
constant is 270 J/kg.K, what is the specific heat ratio?

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Learning Module 01: Review of Basic Thermodynamics

TABLE OF REFERENCES
No. Reference
Anderson J. (2005). Introduction to Flight (5th ed.). 1221 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, NY 10020. Retrieved from
1
https://www.academia.edu/40465060/Introduction_to_Flight_Fifth_Edition_Hi
gher_Education
Anderson J. (2011). Fundamentals of Aerodynamics (5th ed.). 1221 Avenue
of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. Retrieved from
2
https://www.academia.edu/26269624/Fundamentals_of_Aerodynamics_5th_
edition_John_D_Anderson_Jr_Charm_Quark_

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