Final answer:
The force exerted by the gas on the piston is 60 N. Assuming temperature remains constant and that the system is ideal, changing the piston's height to 0.03 m would not alter the force exerted by the gas, which would stay at 60 N. This assumes no other factors, such as volume change, affect the pressure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking about the force exerted by the gas on the piston in a cylinder with a defined area and how this force changes when the piston height is altered. The pressure of the gas is given, along with the initial height of the piston, and we are to find the force exerted and how it changes when the piston is moved to a new height, assuming that temperature remains constant.
First, we calculate the initial force exerted by the gas using the formula Force = Pressure × Area:
- Force = 150 Pa × 0.40 m² = 60 N
Since temperature remains constant and assuming the gas behaves ideally (Boyle's Law applies), the pressure and volume are inversely proportional. Hence, if the piston is moved to a height of 0.03 m, without additional information, it is implied that the force remains the same (60 N) because the pressure should theoretically remain constant if the volume change does not also change the pressure (Ideal Gas Law).
Note: In a practical scenario, changing the piston's height may alter the volume and could change the pressure if the system isn't closed or if there are other factors influencing it. However, with the information given and the assumption of constant temperature, the force calculated would stay unchanged.