Model of a Thermodynamic Surface by Richard P. Baker, Perfect Gas, Baker #221
date: label: date made
content: ca 1906-1935
name: label: maker
content: Baker, Richard P.
label: maker
content: Baker, Richard P.
notes: label: Description
content: This is a model of a thermodynamic surface, representing the behavior of a perfect gas. A square wooden base supports a sloping wire grid structure. Thinking algebraically, the equation for the expansion of a perfect gas is PV = kT, where P is pressure, V is volume, T is temperature, and k is a constant. On the surface, temperature increases as one moves vertically (the black wire in the corner of the model represents increasing temperature). The origin of the coordinate system describing the gas is on the corner of the base diametrically opposite this wire. Pressure increases going toward the back, with white wires on the surface representing equal pressures. Volume increases going to the right, with red wires representing equal volumes. Blue wires represent lines along which the temperature is constant (isotherms). Yellow wires represent lines of constant entropy (adiabats).
label: Description
content: A tag on the bottom of the model reads: No. 221 (/) Perfect gas.
label: Description
content: For more information about thermodynamic surfaces, see MA.211257.045.
label: Description
content: Reference:
label: Description
content: R. P. Baker, <I>Mathematical Models</I>, Iowa City, Iowa, 1931, p. 18.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: Subject
content: Mathematics
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Mathematics
label: See more items in
content: Science & Mathematics
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Frances E. Baker
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MA.211257.036
label: accession number
content: 211257
label: catalog number
content: 211257.036
objectType: label: Object Name
content: geometric model
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: red (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: blue (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: yellow (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: white (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: soldered and bolted (overall production method/technique)
label: Measurements
content: average spatial: 29.6 cm x 27.3 cm x 27.5 cm; 11 21/32 in x 10 3/4 in x 10 13/16 in