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Thermodynamics appeared 36 times across 3 years — 4.2% of Physics. This question is from Isothermal Expansion with Non-Linear Spring.

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 11 19 6 36

A piston of mass M is hung from a massless spring whose restoring force law goes as F = -kx³, where k is the spring constant of appropriate dimension. The piston separates the vertical chamber into two parts, where the bottom part is filled with 'n' moles of an ideal gas. An external work is done on the gas isothermally (at a constant temperature T) with the help of a heating filament (with negligible volume) mounted in lower part of the chamber, so that the piston goes up from a height L₀ to L₁, the total energy delivered by the filament is (Assume spring to be in its natural length before heating)
Piston connected to spring with gas underneath for Q11
A schematic of a piston of mass M connected to a spring inside a vertical chamber, separating gas at the bottom from vacuum/atmosphere at the top.

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula

First Law of Thermodynamics:

Δ Q = Δ U + Wby gas

Work done by an ideal gas during isothermal expansion:

Wgas = nRTln((V₁)/(V₀)) = nRTln((L₁)/(L₀))

Conservation of Energy (Work-Energy Theorem): Total energy delivered by the heating filament (Wfilament) must equal the total work needed to lift the piston against gravity and compress the non-linear spring.

Core Logic

Since the process is isothermal, the change in internal energy of the ideal gas is zero (Δ U = 0). Hence:

Q = Wgas

By the Work-Energy Theorem for the piston:

Wgas + Wfilament = Δ Ugravity + Δ Uspring

Let's evaluate each term:

  • Increase in gravitational potential energy:
Δ Ugravity = Mg(L₁ - L₀)
  • Increase in spring potential energy:
Uspring = -∫L₀L₁ Frestoring dx = ∫L₀L₁ kx³ dx = (k)/(4)(L₁⁴ - L₀⁴)
Step 1: Finding Total Energy Delivered

Isolating Wfilament (the net external energy delivered to the gas system):

Wfilament = Wgas + Mg(L₁ - L₀) + (k)/(4)(L₁⁴ - L₀⁴)

Since Wgas = nRTln((L₁)/(L₀)):

Wfilament = nRTln((L₁)/(L₀)) + Mg(L₁ - L₀) + (k)/(4)(L₁⁴ - L₀⁴)
Pattern Recognition

Notice how energy conservation instantly frames this complex thermodynamics question. The heating filament's energy simply goes into three distinct stores: the isothermal work of gas expansion, raising the mass against gravity (Mgh), and the potential energy of the spring (integrated from kx³). Keeping this total energy ledger in mind prevents tedious mathematical tangents.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Thermodynamics: First Law Class 11 Physics: Work, Energy and Power: Variable Force Integration

More Thermodynamics Previous-Year Questions — Page 4

Q5 jee_main_2025_08_april_evening Specific Heat Capacity
Water falls from a height of 200~m into a pool. Calculate the rise in temperature of the water assuming no heat dissipation from the water in the pool. (Take g = 10~m/s², specific heat of water = 4200~J/(kg· K))
  • A. 0.23~K
  • B. 0.36~K
  • C. 0.14~K
  • D. 0.48~K

Solution

Related Formula
Δ U = mgh and Q = msΔ T

By conservation of energy (assuming all potential energy goes into heating the water):

mgh = msΔ T Δ T = (gh)/(s)

where, g = acceleration due to gravity h = height of the fall s = specific heat of water Δ T = rise in temperature

Core Logic

Given parameters:

  • h = 200~m
  • g = 10~m/s²
  • s = 4200~J/(kg· K)
  • Substitute the values to find Δ T:

Δ T = (10 × 200)/(4200) = (2000)/(4200) Δ T = (10)/(21) ≈ 0.476~K ≈ 0.48~K
Pattern Recognition

Sees: "Water falling from height h raises temperature" → Mass cancels out. Δ T = (gh)/(s). Shortcut: Always use SI units (swater = 4200~J/kg· K is given; if given in cal/g·^° C, convert using 1~cal = 4.184~J). ✓

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Thermodynamics Class 11 Physics: Work, Energy and Power

Q11 jee_main_2025_08_april_evening Thermodynamic Processes
A monoatomic gas having γ = (5)/(3) is stored in a thermally insulated container and the gas is suddenly compressed to ((1)/(8))th of its initial volume. The ratio of final pressure and initial pressure is: (γ is the ratio of specific heats of the gas at constant pressure and at constant volume)
  • A. 16
  • B. 40
  • C. 32
  • D. 28

Solution

Related Formula
Pᵢ Vᵢγ = Pf Vfγ

where, Pᵢ, Pf = initial and final pressures Vᵢ, Vf = initial and final volumes γ = adiabatic exponent

Core Logic

Since the gas is stored in a "thermally insulated container" and is compressed "suddenly", the process is adiabatic.

From the adiabatic relation:

(Pf)/(Pᵢ) = ((Vᵢ)/(Vf))γ

Given:

  • Vf = (1)/(8) Vᵢ (Vᵢ)/(Vf) = 8
  • γ = (5)/(3)
Step 1: Computation

Substitute the values to find the pressure ratio:

(Pf)/(Pᵢ) = (8)5/3 = (2³)5/3 (Pf)/(Pᵢ) = 2⁵ = 32
Pattern Recognition

Sees: "suddenly compressed" or "thermally insulated container" → Adiabatic process. Shortcut: P V^γ = constant. Since the volume goes down by 8 times, the pressure increases by 8γ = 85/3 = 32 times. ✓

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Thermodynamics

Q jee_main_2025_29_jan_evening Isothermal and Adiabatic Processes
Given below are two statements. One is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).

**Assertion** (A): With the increase in the pressure of an ideal gas, the volume falls off more rapidly in an isothermal process in comparison to the adiabatic process.

Reason (R): In isothermal process, PV = constant, while in adiabatic process PVγ = constant. Here γ is the ratio of specific heats, P is the pressure and V is the volume of the ideal gas.

In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
  • A. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A)
  • B. (A) is true but (R) is false
  • C. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
  • D. (A) is false but (R) is true

Solution

Related Formula
((dP)/(dV))isothermal = -(P)/(V) ((dP)/(dV))adiabatic = -γ (P)/(V)
Core Logic

The slope of an adiabatic process on a P-V diagram is γ times steeper than that of an isothermal process:

|((dP)/(dV))adiabatic| > |((dP)/(dV))isothermal|

Isothermal and Adiabatic Processes diagram for Q2 - JEE Main 2025 Evening
Isothermal and Adiabatic Processes diagram for Q2 - JEE Main 2025 Evening

When pressure increases (compression), the volume drops. Because the adiabatic curve is steeper, the pressure rises more rapidly for a given drop in volume, or conversely, for a specified increase in pressure, the volume falls off more rapidly in the isothermal process than the adiabatic process. Hence, Assertion (A) is true.

Reason (R) states the governing equations PV = C and PVγ = C, which directly lead to these slope expressions via differentiation. Thus, Reason (R) is true and correctly explains Assertion (A).

Pattern Recognition

Adiabatic curves are steeper than isothermal curves on a P-V diagram because γ > 1. For any expansion or compression process, remember that slope magnitude satisfies Slopeadi = γ · Slopeᵢₛₒ.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Thermodynamics

Q6 jee_main_2025_29_jan_evening Heat and Work in Thermodynamic Processes
A poly-atomic molecule (CV = 3R, CP = 4R, where R is gas constant) goes from phase space point A(PA = 10⁵~Pa, VA = 4 × 10⁻⁶~m³) to point B(PB = 5 × 10⁴~Pa, VB = 6 × 10⁻⁶~m³) to point C(PC = 10⁴~Pa, VC = 8 × 10⁻⁶~m³). A to B is an adiabatic path and B to C is an isothermal path. The net heat absorbed per unit mole by the system is:
Heat and Work in Thermodynamic Processes diagram for Q6 - JEE Main 2025 Evening
The graph depicts a pressure vs volume plot indicating paths from state A to B (adiabatic) and from B to C (isothermal).
  • A. 500 ~R(ln 3 + ln 4)
  • B. 450 ~R(ln 4 - ln 3)
  • C. 500 ~Rln 2
  • D. 400 ~R ln 4

Solution

Related Formula
Δ Qₙₑₜ = Δ QAB + Δ QBC Δ Qisothermal = nRT ln((Vf)/(Vᵢ)) = Pᵢ Vᵢ ln((Vf)/(Vᵢ))
Core Logic

For path A arrow B: Since it is given as an adiabatic path:

Δ QAB = 0

For path B arrow C: Since it is given as an isothermal path, the change in internal energy Δ UBC = 0. From the first law of thermodynamics, heat absorbed equals work done:

Δ QBC = WBC = nRTB ln((VC)/(VB))

Using the ideal gas state at point B, nRTB = PB VB:

PB VB = (5 × 10⁴ ~Pa) × (6 × 10⁻⁶ ~m³) = 0.3 ~J

Wait, let's express it in terms of the gas constant R for a single mole (n=1) using temperature data directly provided in the original figure labels (TB = 450~K):

Δ QBC = (1) · R · (450) · ln( 8 × 10⁻⁶6 × 10⁻⁶) Δ QBC = 450 R ln((4)/(3)) = 450 R (ln 4 - ln 3)

Thus, the total net heat absorbed per unit mole is:

Δ Q = 0 + 450 R (ln 4 - ln 3) = 450 R (ln 4 - ln 3)
Pattern Recognition

Adiabatic paths have zero heat exchange by baseline definition. The calculation boils down directly to the work done during the isothermal stage B arrow C matching RT ln(Vf/Vᵢ).

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Thermodynamics

Q7 jee_main_2025_28_jan_morning Carnot Engine and Efficiency
A Carnot engine (E) is working between two temperatures 473K and 273K. In a new system two engines - engine E₁ works between 473K to 373K and engine E₂ works between 373K to 273K. If η₁₂ , η₁ and η₂ are the efficiencies of the engines E, E₁ and E₂ , respectively, then
  • A. η₁₂ < η₁ + η₂
  • B. η₁₂ = η₁η₂
  • C. η₁₂ = η₁ + η₂
  • D. η₁₂ ≥ η₁ + η₂

Solution

Related Formula
η = 1 - TLTH
Core Logic

Let's compute the efficiency parameters explicitly:

η₁₂ = 1 - (273)/(473) = (200)/(473) ≈ 0.423 η₁ = 1 - (373)/(473) = (100)/(473) ≈ 0.211 η₂ = 1 - (273)/(373) = (100)/(373) ≈ 0.268

Evaluating the linear sum of fractional bounds:

η₁ + η₂ = 0.211 + 0.268 = 0.479

Comparing the outputs clearly demonstrates:

η₁₂ < η₁ + η₂
Step 1: Final Conclusion

Thus, the inequality satisfies option (1).

Pattern Recognition

The joint efficiency of cascading perfect thermodynamic steps is bounded multiplicatively as (1-η₁₂) = (1-η₁)(1-η₂), which algebraically forces η₁₂ = η₁ + η₂ - η₁η₂ < η₁ + η₂.

Chapter Mix

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