Question

An ideal gas has its pressure cut in half slowly, while being kept in a container with rigid walls. During this process, 256 kJ of heat left the gas. How much work was done during this process?

a. 128 kJ
b. -128 kJ
c. 256 kJ
d. -256 kJ

Answer 1

Work done is a measure of the energy transfer that occurs when a force is applied to an object, and the object moves in the direction of the force. No work is done by the gas during this process. Hence, none of the given options are correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

When an ideal gas undergoes a quasi-static process with rigid walls, the work done by the gas is given by the equation:

Work = -P ΔV

Where P is the pressure and ΔV is the change in volume of the gas. Since the pressure is halved while the volume remains constant, the work done by the gas is:

Work = -P ΔV = -(½P)(0) = 0

Therefore, no work is done by the gas during this process.