Wednesday, November 14, 2007

PS6 problems 3 and 4

Two corrections:

On problem 3, the radius of a cell is 10 um (microns).

On problem 4, the unsubscripted x's are just the same x's as those that precede them.

PS7-8 and online notes

Per the class vote, PS7 and PS8 will be due the Friday following their original Wednesday due dates. Note that this is not the case for PS6.

It was pointed out to me that some of the graphs are inverted in the lecture notes. I've tried to fix this for the lectures going back to "Solutions", so there are updated versions on the website. Let me know if you're still having problems.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Comments on midterm grades

Just to clarify:

The number in blue ink at the top of your midterm exam called "midterm average" is your average in the class for the midterm exam plus PS1-4. Both a percentage and letter grade are listed. Note that it is not the average of everyone in the class on the midterm.

Also, the green dot on everyone's exam indicates that you turned in your survey.

Scott

Sunday, November 11, 2007

PS5 correction

It just came to my attention that I inverted the derivative in problem 4 on PS5. The left hand side in both expressions should be (dT/dP).

Friday, November 9, 2007

Class Tuesday

In order to make up one of the lectures from this past week, this coming Tuesday's discussion class (Nov 13) will consist of a normal lecture (1 hour) followed by time as needed to answer questions about the problem set. I have arranged to keep the classroom for additional time.

Friday, November 2, 2007

Info on the midterm

Here is a summary of information about the midterm:

You can pick up your exam at the front chemical engineering office no earlier than 9am Monday morning, Nov. 5.

The exam is due back at the office no later than 11am Tuesday morning, Nov. 6.

Please write neatly on separate paper and staple your work together.

Happy studying!

Problem 2 on the midterm practice problems

I was told there may be some confusion about part 2b. Here is how to approach that problem.

For any phase, we can write the entropy as a function of the pressure and temperature:

S = S(T,P)

The total derivative is:

dS = (dS/dT) dT + (dS/dP) dP

= (Cp/T) dT - (alpha V) dP

Where Cp is the constant pressure heat capacity and alpha is the thermal expansion coefficient. In the second line, the (dS/dP) term was converted with a Maxwell relation to get -(dV/dT).

If we have a line along which the entropies are equal between two phases:

S1 = S2 (along Kauzmann locus)

The full differential must also be equal:

dS1 = dS2 (along Kauzmann locus)

Substituting the above relation:

(Cp1/T) dT - (alpha1 V1) dP = (Cp2/T) dT - (alpha2 V1) dP
(along Kauzmann locus)

Now simplifying:

(dP/dT) = Delta(Cp) / [T Delta(alpha V)] (along Kauzmann locus)

In general, the Kauzmann locus will extend into regions of (T,P) space where one is comparing a metastable state to a stable one. In the helium example given, the Kauzmann locus occurs in some parts of the phase diagram where the liquid is supercooled and the crystal is stable. It also occurs in places where the crystal is superheated and the liquid is stable. Where the Kauzmann locus intersects the phase boundary between the liquid and crystal, there is a Kauzmann point.