Question

An ideal monatomic gas initially has a temperature of 300 K and a pressure of 5.79 atm. It is to expand from volume 420 cm3 to volume 1450 cm3. If the expansion is isothermal, what are (a) the final pressure and (b) the work done by the gas

Answer 1

a) The final pressure is 1.68 atm.

b) The work done by the gas is 305.3 J.

Step-by-step explanation:

a) The final pressure of an isothermal expansion is given by:

`T = (PV)/(nR)`

`T_(i) = T_(f)`

`(P_(i)V_(i))/(nR) = (P_(f)V_(f))/(nR)`

Where:

`P_(i)`: is the initial pressure = 5.79 atm

`P_(f)`: is the final pressure =?

`V_(i)`: is the initial volume = 420 cm³

`V_(f)`: is the final volume = 1450 cm³

n: is the number of moles of the gas

R: is the gas constant

`P_(f) = (P_(i)V_(i))/(V_(f)) = (5.79 atm*420 cm^(3))/(1450 cm^(3)) = 1.68 atm`

Hence, the final pressure is 1.68 atm.

b) The work done by the isothermal expansion is:

`W = P_(i)V_(i)ln((V_(f))/(V_(i))) = 5.79 atm*(101325 Pa)/(1 atm)*420 cm^(3)*(1 m^(3))/((100 cm)^(3))ln((1450 cm^(3))/(420 cm^(3))) = 305.3 J`

Therefore, the work done by the gas is 305.3 J.

I hope it helps you!