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Ch 20: The Micro/Macro Connection
Chapter 20, Problem 20

Consider a container like that shown in Figure 20.12, with n₁ moles of a monatomic gas on one side and n₂ moles of a diatomic gas on the other. The monatomic gas has initial temperature T₁ᵢ. The diatomic gas has initial temperature T₂ᵢ. b. Show that the equilibrium temperature is

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Thermodynamic Equilibrium

Thermodynamic equilibrium occurs when two or more systems in thermal contact reach a state where their temperatures equalize, resulting in no net heat flow between them. In this scenario, the monatomic and diatomic gases will exchange energy until they reach a common equilibrium temperature, which is crucial for solving the problem.
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Heat Capacity

Heat capacity is the amount of heat required to change the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius. For gases, it varies depending on whether they are monatomic or diatomic, with diatomic gases generally having higher heat capacities due to additional degrees of freedom. Understanding heat capacities is essential for calculating the final equilibrium temperature in this scenario.
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First Law of Thermodynamics

The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. In the context of this problem, it implies that the heat lost by the monatomic gas will equal the heat gained by the diatomic gas, allowing us to set up an equation to find the equilibrium temperature based on the initial conditions and the number of moles of each gas.
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