BeginnerTopic 11 of 105Thermodynamics & Fluids
Ideal gas law
PV=nRT approximates gases at low pressure and high temperature.
In depth
PV=mRT=nR_uT with R=R_u/M. Valid at low pressure and high temperature relative to critical values. P and T must be absolute. Combined gas law P₁V₁/T₁=P₂V₂/T₂. Real-gas deviations are given by Z or equations of state (van der Waals, Peng-Robinson).
Key points
- R_u=8.314 kJ/kmol·K
- R_air=0.287 kJ/kg·K
- Molar volume 22.4 L at STP
Example1 kg of air at 300 K and 100 kPa occupies 0.861 m³.
The ideal gas law gives a fast estimate of gas behaviour, so it is used for air, combustion products and many engineering calculations.
What is Ideal gas law?
PV=nRT approximates gases at low pressure and high temperature.
Why is it important to understand ideal gas law?
The ideal gas law gives a fast estimate of gas behaviour, so it is used for air, combustion products and many engineering calculations.
When is the ideal gas law accurate?
At low pressure and high temperature, relative to the gas's critical point, where molecular forces and volume are small.
What is the gas constant for air?
About 287 joules per kilogram per kelvin, which is the specific gas constant, while R bar is the universal gas constant.
How is Ideal gas law used in practice?
Typical applications include estimating the density of air in a duct at a given temperature and pressure, calculating the amount of gas in a cylinder at a set state and checking whether a gas can be treated as ideal in a compressor.
What should I learn before Ideal gas law?
Study "First law of thermodynamics" first (topic 10 of 105 in Thermodynamics & Fluids). It covers the groundwork this topic builds on.
What are the key points of Ideal gas law?
R_u=8.314 kJ/kmol·K. R_air=0.287 kJ/kg·K. Molar volume 22.4 L at STP.
Can you give an example of Ideal gas law?
1 kg of air at 300 K and 100 kPa occupies 0.861 m³.
What comes after Ideal gas law?
The next topic is "Thermodynamic processes", which builds directly on this one.
How difficult is Ideal gas law?
It is classed as Beginner in Thermodynamics & Fluids (topic 11 of 105). It is an entry-level topic. It relies only on basic school mathematics and the ideas introduced earlier in this discipline.