Question 23M.3.HL.TZ1.9
Date | May 2023 | Marks available | [Maximum mark: 10] | Reference code | 23M.3.HL.TZ1.9 |
Level | HL | Paper | 3 | Time zone | TZ1 |
Command term | Calculate, Outline, Show that, Suggest | Question number | 9 | Adapted from | N/A |
The pV diagram shows a heat engine cycle consisting of adiabatic, isothermal and isovolumetric parts. The working substance of the engine is an ideal gas.
The following data are available:
pA = 5.00 × 105 Pa
VA = 2.00 × 10−3 m3
TA = 602 K
pB = 3.00 × 104 Pa
pC = 4.60 × 103 Pa
Suggest why AC is the adiabatic part of the cycle.
[2]
ALTERNATIVE 1
«considering expansions from A» an adiabatic process will reduce/change temperature ✓
and so curve AC must be the steeper ✓
ALTERNATIVE 2
temperature drop occurs for BC ✓
therefore CA must increase temperature «via adiabatic process». ✓
Heat engine. In a), most students only conveyed information given that AC is adiabatic but could not give clear enough reasons.

Show that the volume at C is 3.33 × 10−2 m3.
[2]
ALTERNATIVE 1
Use of adiabatic formula «» ✓
× 2.00 × 10−3 «= 3.333 × 10−2 m3» ✓
For MP2, working or answer to at least 4 SF must be seen.
ALTERNATIVE 2
VC=VB AND pA VA = pB VB ✓
✓
ALTERNATIVE 3
VC=VB AND n = 0.2 mol ✓
VC = (0.2 × 8.31 × 602) / 4 × 104 ✓
Calculating the volume was the easiest part of this question.

Suggest, for the change A ⇒ B, whether the entropy of the gas is increasing, decreasing or constant.
[2]
Increasing ✓
because thermal energy/heat is being provided to the gas « and temperature is constant, ✓

Calculate the thermal energy (heat) taken out of the gas from B to C.
[2]
ALTERNATIVE 1
✓
« × 3.33 × 10−2 × (3.00 × 104 − 4.60 × 103)» = 1268.7 ≈ 1270 «J» ✓
Award [2] for BCA.
Accept negative values.
ALTERNATIVE 2
OR Tc = 4.6 × 103 × 3.33 × 10−2 × 1.66 = 92.2 ✓
«J» ✓
Award MP1 if Tc = 92 taken from (e)
Calculating thermal energy in d) and comparing ideal efficiency discriminated between average and best students.

The highest and lowest temperatures of the gas during the cycle are 602 K and 92 K.
The efficiency of this engine is about 0.6. Outline how these data are consistent with the second law of thermodynamics.
[2]
ec = 1 − = 0.847 ✓
this engine has e < ec as it should ✓
Award [0] if no calculation shown.
