Show that ∆ρ=-ρβ∆T

1 answer

We can start with the ideal gas law:

PV = nRT

where P is the pressure, V is the volume, n is the number of moles of gas, R is the universal gas constant, and T is the absolute temperature. We can rearrange this equation to solve for density (ρ):

ρ = nM/V

where M is the molar mass of the gas and V is the volume. Substituting this into the ideal gas law, we get:

P = (nRT)/V = (ρMV)RT

Now, if we assume that the volume stays constant, we can take the derivative of this equation with respect to temperature:

dP/dT = (ρMV)R

We can also use the chain rule to write this as:

dP/dT = (dP/dρ)*(dρ/dT)

where (dP/dρ) is the partial derivative of pressure with respect to density, and (dρ/dT) is the partial derivative of density with respect to temperature. Rearranging this equation, we get:

(dρ/dT) = (dP/dρ)*(1/((ρMV)R))

Now, we can use the ideal gas law to express (dP/dρ) in terms of pressure and density:

(dP/dρ) = (RT/V)

Substituting this in the previous equation, we get:

(dρ/dT) = (RT/V)*(1/((ρMV)R))

Simplifying this, we get:

(dρ/dT) = (-ρ/VM)*(β)

where β is defined as:

β = (1/V)*(dV/dT)

Now, assuming that the gas is at a constant pressure and volume, we can write:

∆ρ = (dρ/dT)*∆T

Substituting in the previous equation, we get:

∆ρ = (-ρ/VM)*(β)*∆T

Simplifying this, we get:

∆ρ = -ρβ∆T

which is the desired expression.