The ratio of the specific heat of a gas at constant volume to its specific heat at constant pressure is:
A)1
B)less than 1
C)more than 1
D)has units of pressure/volume
E)has units of volume/pressure

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This ratio is known as the adiabatic index or ratio of specific heats (γ) and is always less than 1 for any gas. This is because the specific heat at constant volume (Cv) is always less than the specific heat at constant pressure (Cp) for any gas.

The Ratio of the Specific Heat of a Gas at Constant