Past exam of the theoretical mechanics course of the University of Oxford 2008 B 5 Solution 2026-10-31
The first energy term is the rate of change of internal plus kinetic energy per unit volume; the second transports that energy with the moving gas; the pressure term is the mechanical work flux across the boundary. There is no heat flux or viscous work in the stated inviscid adiabatic model.
Use mass conservation to replace a conservative derivative of by . Dotting the momentum equation with gives . Subtraction from total energy leavesNow and implyThus : smooth adiabatic inviscid trajectories are isentropic. Shocks need an entropy inequality rather than this smooth equality.
Adding models Fourier heat conduction, with heat flux . The same subtraction gives , henceFor a fixed container use impermeability , insulation , and mass conservation. ThenThe boundary term vanishes and supplies the positive sign. For , , total entropy cannot decrease: this is entropy production by Fourier heat conduction.