Question

The pressure and volume of an ideal monatomic gas change from A to B to C, as the drawing shows. The curved line between A and C is an isotherm. Determine the total heat flow into or out of the gas for the process (including the algebraic sign).

Answer 1

The heat flow out of the system is determined to be
`\(8 * 10^4 \, \text{joules}\).`

What is an isothermal process?

An isothermal process, characterized by a constant temperature, exhibits a relationship where the volume of a gas is inversely proportional to its pressure, typically represented as
`\(PV = \text{constant}\)`.

The area beneath the curve on a pressure-volume
`(\(PV\))` plot signifies either the work done or the heat flow within the process.

Given a rectangle on the plot with a length representing a volume difference of
`\(0.200 \, \text{m}^3\)` and a height denoting a pressure difference of
`\(4.00 * 10^5 \, \text{Pa}\)`, the area can be calculated as follows:

`\[ \text{Area} = \text{Length} * \text{Height} = 0.200 \, \text{m}^3 * 4.00 * 10^5 \, \text{Pa} = 8 * 10^4 \, \text{joules} \]`

Hence, the heat flow out of the system is determined to be
`\(8 * 10^4 \, \text{joules}\).`