2.2 Consider 1 kg of helium at 500 K.

Assuming that the total internal energy of helium is

due to the mean kinetic energy of each atom summed over all the atoms; calculate the internal
energy of this gas. Note: The molecular weight of helium is 4. Recall from chemistry that
the molecular weight is the mass per mole of gas; that is, 1 mol of helium contains 4 kg of
mass. Also, 1 mol of any gas contains 6.02 × 10²³ molecules or atoms (Avogadro’s number).

2.5 If 1500 lbm of air is pumped into a previously empty 900ft³ storage tank and the air
temperature in the tank is uniformly 70°F, what is the air pressure in the tank in atmospheres?

2.6 In Prob. 2.5, assume that the rate at which air is being pumped into the tank is 0.5 lbm/s.
Consider the instant in time at which there is 1000lbm of air in the tank. Assume that the air
temperature is uniformly 50°F at this instant and is increasing at the rate of 1°F/min.
Calculate the rate of change of pressure at this instant.

2.9 Consider a flat surface in an aerodynamic flow (say a flat sidewall of a wind tunnel). The
dimensions of this surface are 3 ft in the flow direction (the x direction) and 1 ft
perpendicular to the flow direction (the y direction). Assume that the pressure distribution (in
pounds per square foot) is given by p = 2116 − 10x and is independent of y. Assume also that
the shear stress distribution (in pounds per square foot) is given by τ = 90/(x + 9)½ and is
independent of y as shown in figure below. In these expressions, x is in feet, and x = 0 at the
front of the surface. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the net aerodynamic force on
the surface.

2.10 A pitcher throws a baseball at 85 miles per hour. The flow field over the baseball
moving through the stationary air at 85 miles per hour is the same as that over a stationary
baseball in an airstream that approaches the baseball at 85 miles per hour. (This is the
principle of wind tunnel testing, as will be discussed in Ch. 4.) This picture of a stationary
body with the flow moving over it is what we adopt here. Neglecting friction, the theoretical
3
expression for the flow velocity over the surface of a sphere (like the baseball) is V = V∞
2
sin θ. Here V∞ is the airstream velocity (the free-stream velocity far ahead of the sphere). An
arbitrary point on the surface of the sphere is located by the intersection of the radius of the
sphere with the surface, and θ is the angular position of the radius measured from a line
through the center in the direction of the free stream (i.e., the most forward and rearward
points on the spherical surface correspond to θ = 0° and 180°, respectively). (See figure
below.) The velocity V is the flow velocity at that arbitrary point on the surface. Calculate the
values of the minimum and maximum velocity at the surface and the location of the points at
which these occur.
2.11 Consider an ordinary, helium-filled party balloon with a volume of 2.2ft 3. The lifting
force on the balloon due to the outside air is the net resultant of the pressure distribution
exerted on the exterior surface of the balloon. Using this fact, we can derive Archimedes’
principle, namely that the upward force on the balloon is equal to the weight of the air
displaced by the balloon. Assuming that the balloon is at sea level, where the air density is
0.002377slug/ft3, calculate the maximum weight that can be lifted by the balloon. Note: The
molecular weight of air is 28.8 and that of helium is 4.

2.12 In the four-stroke, reciprocating, internal combustion engine that powers most
automobiles as well as most small general aviation aircraft, combustion of the fuel–air
mixture takes place in the volume between the top of the piston and the top of the cylinder.
(Reciprocating engines are discussed in Ch. 9.) The gas mixture is ignited when the piston is
essentially at the end of the compression stroke (called top dead center), when the gas is
compressed to a relatively high pressure and is squeezed into the smallest volume that exists
between the top of the piston and the top of the cylinder. Combustion takes place rapidly
before the piston has much time to start down on the power stroke. Hence, the volume of the
gas during combustion stays constant; that is, the combustion process is at constant volume.
Consider the case where the gas density and temperature at the instant combustion begins are
11.3kg/m3 and 625K, respectively. At the end of the constant-volume combustion process,
the gas temperature is 4000K. Calculate the gas pressure at the end of the constant-volume
combustion. Assume that the specific gas constant for the fuel–air mixture is the same as that
for pure air.

2.13 For the conditions of Prob. 2.12, calculate the force exerted on the top of the piston by
the gas at (a) the beginning of combustion and (b) the end of combustion. The diameter of the
circular piston face is 9 cm.

2.14 In a gas turbine jet engine, the pressure of the incoming air is increased by flowing
through a compressor; the air then enters a combustor that looks vaguely like a long can
(sometimes called the combustion can). Fuel is injected in to the combustor and burns with
the air, and then the burned fuel–air mixture exits the combustor at a higher temperature than
the air coming into the combustor. (Gas turbine jet engines are discussed in Ch. 9.) The
pressure of the flow through the combustor remains relatively constant; that is, the
combustion process is at constant pressure. Consider the case where the gas pressure and
temperature entering the combustor are 4×10 6 N/m2 and 900K, respectively, and the gas
temperature exiting the combustor is 1500K. Calculate the gas density at (a) the inlet to the
combustor and (b) the exit of the combustor. Assume that the specific gas constant for the
fuel–air mixture is the same as that for pure air.

2.17 Consider a stationary, thin, flat plate with area of 2m 2 for each face oriented
perpendicular to a flow. The pressure exerted on the front face of the plate (facing into the
flow) is 1.0715×105 N/m2, and is constant over the face. The pressure exerted on the back face
of the plate (facing away from the flow) is 1.01×10 5 N/m2, and is constant over the face.
Calculate the aerodynamic force in pounds on the plate. Note: The effect of shear stress is
negligible for this case.

2.18 The weight of the North American P-51 Mustang shown in Fig. 2.12b is 10,100lb and its
wing planform area is 233 ft 2. Calculate the wing loading in both English engineering and SI
units. Also, express the wing loading in terms of the non-consistent unit kgf.
2.22 The X-15 (see Fig. 5.92) was a rocket powered research airplane designed to probe the
mysteries of hypersonic flight. In 2014, the X-15 still holds the records for the fastest and
highest flying piloted airplane (the Space Shuttle and Spaceship One, in this context, are
space ships, not airplanes). On August 22, 1963, pilot Joseph Walker set the unofficial world
altitude record of 354,200 feet. On October 3, 1967, pilot William J. Knight set the world
speed record of 4520 mph (Mach 6.7). (a) Convert Walker’s altitude record to meters and
kilometers. (b) Convert Knight’s speed record to meters per second.

2.25 In the United States, the thrust of a jet engine is usually quoted in terms of pounds of
thrust. Elsewhere, the thrust is generally stated in terms of kilo-newtons. The thrust of the
Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine turbofan is rated at 373.7 kN. What is the thrust in pounds?

2.26 The first stage of the Saturn rocket booster used to send the Apollo astronauts to the
moon was powered by five F-1 rocket engines. The thrust of rocket engines is sometimes
given in terms of kg force. For example, the thrust of the F-1 engine is sometimes quoted as
690,000 kg. Calculate the F-1 thrust in the consistent units of (a) newtons, and (b) pounds.

------------