Difference between revisions of "Van der Waals equation"

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The '''van der Waals equation'' is an [[equation of state]] in [[thermodynamics]] relating the [[physics | physical]] quantities [[pressure]], [[volume]], [[temperature]], and [[van der Waals force]]s in a [[gas]].
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The '''van der Waals equation''' is an [[equation of state]] in [[thermodynamics]] relating the [[physics | physical]] quantities [[pressure]], [[volume]], [[temperature]], and [[van der Waals force]]s in a [[gas]].
  
==The law==
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==Equation==
 
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The law states:
The '''van der Waals equation''' states:
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<cmath>\left(P-\alpha\frac{n^2}{V^2}\right)(V-\beta n)=nRT</cmath>
<cmath>(P-\alpha\frac{n^2}{V^2})(V-\beta n)=nRT</cmath>
 
 
where <math>\alpha</math> and <math>\beta</math> are dependent on the gas, <math>V</math> is the volume, <math>P</math> is the pressure, <math>n</math> is the number of moles of gas, <math>R</math> is the [[universal gas constant]], <math>T</math> is the temperature.
 
where <math>\alpha</math> and <math>\beta</math> are dependent on the gas, <math>V</math> is the volume, <math>P</math> is the pressure, <math>n</math> is the number of moles of gas, <math>R</math> is the [[universal gas constant]], <math>T</math> is the temperature.
  
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* [[van der Waals force]]
 
* [[van der Waals force]]
  
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{{stub}}
 
[[Category:Physics]]
 
[[Category:Physics]]
{{stub}}
 

Revision as of 20:07, 14 December 2007

The van der Waals equation is an equation of state in thermodynamics relating the physical quantities pressure, volume, temperature, and van der Waals forces in a gas.

Equation

The law states: \[\left(P-\alpha\frac{n^2}{V^2}\right)(V-\beta n)=nRT\] where $\alpha$ and $\beta$ are dependent on the gas, $V$ is the volume, $P$ is the pressure, $n$ is the number of moles of gas, $R$ is the universal gas constant, $T$ is the temperature.

The van der Waals equation is useful for high-pressure gases where the ideal gas law is inaccurate.

See also

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