FYKOS Year 27 Series 5 Problem 3 — the fine container · FYKOS 27 #27.5.3
Physics · mechanics · thermodynamics
Problem
Consider a cylindrical container which fills the volume of V=1l. The container is closed with an airtight moving piston which has a non-negible mass M. Furthermore we know that the container is divided by horizontal partitions into n sections and in the i−thsection (it is numbered from the top ascendingly) there are 2^{i}a particles, where ais an undefined constant.The partitions are not fixed with regards to the container but at the same time they prevent the sections in which the ideal gas can be found from exchanging heat or particles. The whole system is at equilibrium. Then we make the mass of the piston twice as large and wait for equilibrium to arise again. How will the volume of the gas in the container change? Do not consider atmospheric pressure.