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Specific Heat Constant Volume Question

  1. Apr 6, 2007 #1
    Can someone give me the equation to calculate the change of Cv (specific heat at constant volume with change in temperature.

    For example the equation to do this with Cp (specific heat at constant pressure) is:

    Cp = 1.9327e-10*T^4 - 7.9999e-7*T^3 + 1.1407e-3*T^2 - 4.4890e-1*T + 1.0575e+3


  2. jcsd
  3. Apr 6, 2007 #2


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    Look up the equation for the given substance in a table. For example, Perry's Chemical Engineering Handbook. What substance is the equation for cp valid for? If it's an ideal gas, you can use the ideal gas constant to get a relationship between cp and cv.
  4. Apr 6, 2007 #3
    Sorry, forgot to mention the gas is air.

    Yeah, I can get Cv once I know Cp, by subtracting R:

    Cv = Cp - R.

    I was just wondering if there was an equation because I want to use it in a spreadsheet.


  5. Apr 6, 2007 #4


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    and the air isn't frozen, nor superheated to some obscene temperature, right? then, is not [itex]C_v[/itex], [itex]C_p[/itex], and [itex]R[/itex] constant with repect to [itex]T[/itex]? i don't follow the premise to your original question.
  6. Apr 6, 2007 #5
    Cp= Cv + R
  7. Apr 6, 2007 #6


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    Hi Gordon,
    Attached is the output from a spreadsheet that gives Cv and Cp at various pressures and temperatures. Just do a curve fit.

    Edit: Pressure in PSIA

    Attached Files:

    • air.zip
      File size:
      4.4 KB
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2007
  8. Apr 6, 2007 #7
    Thanks, Q.

    What is the underlying equation?



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