Final answer:
Work done on an ideal gas by the surroundings during a thermodynamic process can be calculated using the formula W = -nRT ln(P2/P1), with n as the number of moles, R the universal gas constant, T the temperature, and P1 and P2 as the initial and final pressures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the work done on an ideal gas by the surroundings during a thermodynamic process. In physics, particularly in the study of thermodynamics, work is an important concept when discussing energy changes in systems involving gases. To calculate work done during a gas expansion or compression, we can use the formula W = -nRT ln(P2/P1), where:
- n is the number of moles of gas
- R is the universal gas constant (8.314 J/mol·K)
- T is the absolute temperature in Kelvin
- P1 and P2 are the initial and final pressures
Since we are seeking the work done on the gas, the sign will be positive when the external pressure is higher than the gas pressure (indicating compression). Also, when dealing with ideal gases undergoing isothermal processes at constant temperature, the work done can be represented in terms of the pressure and volume changes since the temperature remains constant.