Space shuttle 230 kPa x 1,514,600 L = 1.06x108 moles x 8.314 x 20 K What variables would change in the equation below and why this was able to push the space shuttle into orbit?
The space shuttle (as with many rockets) relied upon liquid hydrogen as a fuel source to lift it into orbit around the Earth. The following ideal gas law equation describes the state of this liquid Hydrogen before ignition.
PV=nRT
230 kPa x 1,514,600 L = 1.06x108 moles x 8.314 x 20 K
In other words, this is about 117 tons of liquid hydrogen at about 20 degrees above absolute zero. Upon ignition, the mass of the fuel does not change, but it is heated to a temperature of about 3,500 K. Using this information, describe what other variables would change in the above equation and why this was able to push the space shuttle into orbit.
The space shuttle (as with many rockets) relied upon liquid hydrogen as a fuel source to lift it into orbit around the Earth. The following ideal gas law equation describes the state of this liquid Hydrogen before ignition.
PV=nRT
230 kPa x 1,514,600 L = 1.06x108 moles x 8.314 x 20 K
In other words, this is about 117 tons of liquid hydrogen at about 20 degrees above absolute zero. Upon ignition, the mass of the fuel does not change, but it is heated to a temperature of about 3,500 K. Using this information, describe what other variables would change in the above equation and why this was able to push the space shuttle into orbit.
1 Answer
Well, first of all, the ideal gas law doesn't describe liquids... and at
i.e. it lies in the blue region labeled "
So, let's get this right. The basis of this problem isn't physically realistic. What it should have given is simply the external pressure, the volume, the mols, and the temperature, without using the ideal gas law.
[And as a further note, the equation given is not an equation. The left side does not equal the right side.]
However, by heating it to
-
The volume would certainly increase by a factor of over
#8000# , now that it becomes a gas, which is about#1000# times less dense, and the temperature is#175# times hotter. -
The pressure (which is external, and did not affect the liquid) is released from the pressurized fuel tank, so it'll decrease over time.
As this occurs, the gas is then ejected to propel the shuttle...
