Polytropic Process
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Polytropic Process
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A thermodynamic
process in which changes of pressure p and density ρ are related according to the formula
where λ is a constant and the subscript 0 denotes
initial values of the variables. Therefore pressure and temperature are
similarly related: p/po = ( T/To ) k where k is the
coefficient of polytropy. For isobaric processes, k = 0; for isosteric
process, k = 1; for adiabatic processes k = cp'/R , where c is the specific heat
at constant pressure and R is the gas constant.
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In meteorology this formula is applied to individual gas parcels and
should be distinguished from that for a polytropic atmosphere, which describes
a distribution of pressure and temperature in space. See equation of
piezotropy. [[/a>|/a>
]]
References
This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use
