Isobaric Process - Specific Heat Capacity

Specific Heat Capacity

To find the molar specific heat capacity of the gas involved, the following equations apply for any general gas that is calorically perfect. The property is either called the adiabatic index or the heat capacity ratio. Some published sources might use k instead of .

Molar isochoric specific heat:

.

Molar isobaric specific heat:

.

The values for are for diatomic gasses like air and its major components, and for monatomic gasses like the noble gasses. The formulas for specific heats would reduce in these special cases:

Monatomic:

and

Diatomic:

and

An isobaric process is shown on a P-V diagram as a straight horizontal line, connecting the initial and final thermostatic states. If the process moves towards the right, then it is an expansion. If the process moves towards the left, then it is a compression.