Reference no: EM13183664

A piston and a piston rod are fitted inside a cylinder of length 0.508m and area 6.45 x 10^-3 m^2. Although the piston is quite thin, it weighs 9.07kg; the piston rod is 1.29 x 10 ^-3m^2 in area and weighs 4.53 kg. On top of the rod, but outside the cylinder, an 18.14kg weight is placed. Originally, gas in the cylinder above the piston is at atmospheric pressure while the piston is positioned in the middle of the cylinder. Gases in the cylinder both above and below the piston are helium and under these conditions may be considered ideal with a constant Cv = 12.6 J/mol K. The initial temperature everywhere is 311K. Assuming the cylinder, piston, and piston rod to be nonconducting and having a negligible heat capacity, discuss any heat or work interactions if the weight on top should fall off. What is the final state of the system when the piston has stopped and there is a balance of forces across the piston? Do not neglect the fact that during motion there may be some friction between moving parts. Consider cases in which the piston is (a) diathermal and (b) adiabatic.