Physics Home > Teaching Labs > Thermodynamics > Adiabatic Processes

Topics

Points of Emphasis

Prerequisites

Lab Activities

Measurement of the ratio of specific heats for a monatomic gas (helium), a diatomic gas (air) and a polyatomic gas (carbon dioxide) using: (1) the method of Clement and Desormes and (2) Ruchardt's method.

Course Level

Introductory: P3, P13, P15

Student Handouts

Equipment

Number of set-ups available: 10 Per lab station: 1 precision bore glass tube/magnet and matching steel ball 1 stainless steel 8 liter can/#6 stopper 1 balloon 1 ring stand/2 clamps and 2 3-pronged clamps 1 oil manometer 1 stopwatch 1 meterstick 1 vacuum pump General class supplies: (Not shown): 1 tank of helium gas 1 tank of carbon dioxide gas 1 extra balloons 1 long rubber tubing to connect to compressed air

Notes

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