When a gas expands adiabatically, its volume is doubled while its absolute temperature is decreased by a factor (1.32). Compute the number of degrees of freedom for the gas molecules.
Solution:
The number of degrees can be found from the relation $$ f=\frac{2}{\gamma-1}$$
We can find (\gamma) from the adiabatic relation,$$ T_2V_2^{\gamma-1}= T_1V_1^{\gamma-1} $$
$$( \frac{V_2}{V_1})^{\gamma-1}=\frac{T_1}{T_2}=1.32$$
$$ 2^{\gamma-1}=1.32$$
where $$ \gamma=1+\frac{log 1.32}{log2}=1.4$$
The number of degrees of freedom $$ f=\frac{2}{1.4-1}=5$$
