Question

What is the value of work when a piston of volume 0.2 L expands against an external pressure of 200 kPa to a volume of 3.4 L?640 J3.40 kJ-640 J-3.40 kJ

Answer 1

640 J

Step-by-step explanation:

The work done by the piston when expanding is given by

`W=p\Delta V`

where we have

`p=200 kPa = 2.0\cdot 10^5 Pa` is the pressure

`\Delta V` is the change in volume of the gas inside the piston;

since we have

`V_i = 0.2 L` is the initial volume

`V_f = 3.4 L` is the final volume

The change in volume is

`\Delta V=3.4 L-0.2 L=3.2 L=3.2\cdot 10^(-3) m^3`

and so the work done is

`W=(2.00\cdot 10^5 Pa)(3.2 \cdot 10^(-3)m^3)=640 J`