Pressure Oscillations in Adiabatic Compression

UNCP Author/Contributor (non-UNCP co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Dr. Roland P. Stout, Professor (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP )
Web Site: http://www.uncp.edu/academics/library

Abstract: The article discusses an experiment on the behavior of pressure oscillations in adiabatic compression. The author states, "After finding Moloney and McGarvey's modified adiabatic compression apparatus, I decided to insert this experiment into my physical chemistry laboratory at the last minute, replacing a problematic experiment. With insufficient time to build the apparatus, we placed a bottle between two thick textbooks and compressed it with a third textbook forced down from above. We discovered that approximately one in three trials exhibited a damped pressure oscillation after compression, making it difficult to determine the true peak pressure. We discarded these trials and used only those without oscillation. I subsequently have had time to build a version of Moloney and McGarvin's apparatus. Using this apparatus, my students and I have recently performed numerous adiabatic compression trials with three different gases, with very few instances of oscillation."

Additional Information

Publication
Physics Teacher 49.5 (2011)
Language: English
Date: 2011
Keywords
Pressure Oscillations, Adiabatic Compression, Science Experiments, Plastic Bottles, Computer Interfaces, Resonant Vibration,

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