Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 ii Paper 4 35B d i Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
In the Dieterici equation, is the excluded volume per particle caused by short-range repulsion. The positive constant measures cohesive attraction, which lowers the pressure through the Boltzmann factor.
If for a twice continuously differentiable potential , then and . Equality of mixed partial derivatives gives the necessary condition for an exact differential:This condition alone does not ensure global exactness on a domain with holes.
For the Helmholtz free energy , use the stated identity for internal energy and the product rule:Thus and . Equality of mixed partial derivatives yields the Maxwell relationThe temperature and volume are the independent variables here, with composition and amount of gas fixed.
Next express and substitute its total differential into :Matching the coefficient of givesThis is the thermodynamic internal pressure identity: an equation of state determines how internal energy changes under an isothermal change of volume.
For the Dieterici equation, set while differentiating at fixed . ThenSubstitute into the thermodynamic internal pressure identity. The term proportional to cancels , leavingThe physical gas domain has and .
For the ideal gas instead, gives . Therefore is independent of volume at fixed amount of gas. Integrating the remaining condition , with constant heat capacity at constant volume, giveswhere is independent of both and and fixes the reference for internal energy.
Real gas Created 2026-10-14 Updated 2026-10-18
A real gas departs from the ideal gas law because interactions and molecular volume matter. Nonideal equations of state, including the Dieterici equation, model such departures.
Thermodynamic internal pressure 2026-10-20
For a simple compressible system at fixed composition and particle number, the internal pressure is the partial derivative of internal energy with respect to volume at fixed temperature. From and the Maxwell relation , it has the measurable expression in the title. It is distinct from the mechanical pressure .
For an ideal gas, gives , so its internal energy depends only on temperature at fixed amount of gas. For the Dieterici equation , direct differentiation givesThus an equation of state determines this volume sensitivity even without determining the full caloric function .