Show that ∆ρ = -ρβ∆T

1 answer

We can start with the definition of coefficient of volume expansion (β), which is given as:

β = (1/V) * (∂V/∂T) * P

Where V is the volume of the substance, T is the temperature, P is the pressure, and ∂V/∂T is the partial derivative of volume with respect to temperature at constant pressure.

Now, let's consider a small temperature change (∆T) and its effect on the density (ρ) of the substance. We can write:

∆ρ = ρ(T + ∆T) - ρ(T)

Using the first order Taylor expansion, we can approximate ρ(T + ∆T) as:

ρ(T + ∆T) ≈ ρ(T) + (∂ρ/∂T)∆T

Where (∂ρ/∂T) is the partial derivative of density with respect to temperature at constant pressure.

Substituting this in the expression for ∆ρ, we get:

∆ρ ≈ ρ(T) + (∂ρ/∂T)∆T - ρ(T)

Simplifying and dividing by ρ(T) and ∆T, we get:

(∆ρ/ρ(T)) ≈ (∂ρ/∂T)/ρ(T) * ∆T

Now, using the ideal gas law, we know that:

PV = nRT

Rearranging, we get:

V = (nRT)/P

Differentiating with respect to temperature at constant pressure, we get:

(∂V/∂T) = (nR/P)

Substituting this in the expression for coefficient of volume expansion (β), we get:

β = (1/V) * (∂V/∂T) * P
= (nR/P) * (1/(nRT/P)) * P
= (1/T)

Therefore, we can write:

(∆ρ/ρ(T)) ≈ -β∆T

Multiplying both sides by ρ(T), we get:

∆ρ ≈ -ρ(T)β∆T

Thus, we have shown that ∆ρ = -ρβ∆T.