Heat Capacity is considered one the most difficult concept.
14 Questions around this concept.
Helium gas goes through a cycle ABCDA ( consisting of two isochoric and two isobaric lines ) as shown in the figure. The efficiency of this cycle is nearly: ( Assume the gas to be close to ideal gas )

Heat Capacity
The heat capacity of a system is defined as "The quantity of heat required for increasing the temperature of one mole of a system through 10C". It is given as follows:
(i) Heat capacity at constant volume
According to first law of thermodynamics,
Hence the heat capacity at constant volume of a given system may be defined as the rate of change of internal energy with temperature.
(ii) Heat capacity at constant pressure
If pressure is constant, equation (3) becomes as follows:
Hence the heat capacity at constant pressure of a system may be defined as the rate of change of enthalpy with temperature.
For the proof of equation (5), we have to learn the relation between Enthalpy (H) and Internal energy (E)
Relation between Enthalpy and Internal Energy
Enthalpy (H) and Internal energy (E) are related as
At constant pressure, dP =0
Hence, the heat supplied at constant pressure is equal to the Enthalpy
For one mole of a gas Cp and Cv are known as molar heat capacities and the difference between them is equal to the work done by one mole of gas in expansion on heating it through 1oC.
We know that
Other Relation between Cp and Cv
Now, CV and CP can be represented as
where f is the degree of freedom
(1) For Monoatomic Gas:
(2) For Diatomic Gas:
(3) For Polyatomic Gas:
Note: These degree of freedom values do not include the Vibrational degree of freedom. We have to neglect the vibrational degree of freedom, unless mentioned otherwise.
Remember these relation between Cp and Cv for calculation in questions
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