During the first few moments of class, a program was used to simulate the behavior of gas molecules in an enclosed container. If one were to change any of the values assigned to the state variables of the gas, then the other values would change in relation to that altered value. We used the values given by this program to solve for the Ideal Gas Constant "R"
Afterward, we used the definition for concepts such as momentum and pressure to derive a series of equations, one of which being the root-mean-square speed of a gas molecule.
A demonstration was then performed in order to show the behavior of gas with a physical object manipulating its flow. Prior to the demonstration, the class was asked to predict whether the flame of the candle at the bottom of the cylinder would quickly lose oxygen and burn out or if it would continue to burn with the tube of paper held over the top of it. As it turns out, the tube created a channel for the heated air to escape, causing cooler air to flow down the sides and continue feeding the flame.
This then lead to a discussion of the adiabatic process. More equations were derived including the work done during an adiabatic process.
After this, we use a device that would serve to demonstrate the adiabatic process on an observable volume. A piece of paper was used to show that as the volume in the chamber gets smaller and more compact, the temperature increases, so much so that it eventually reaches the ignition point of the paper.
The final temperature inside the chamber was calculated using rough estimates.
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