Question

Determine the amount of work done on an ideal gas as it is heated in an enclosed thermally insulated cylinder topped with a freely moving piston. The cylinder contains of n moles of the gas and the temperature is raised from T1 to T2. The piston has a mass m and a cross sectional area A.

Answer 1

W = 3/2 n (T₁- T₂)

Step-by-step explanation:

Let's use the first law of thermodynamics

ΔE = Q + W

in this case the cylinder is insulated, so there is no heat transfer

ΔE = W

internal energy can be related to the change in temperature

ΔE = 3/2 n K ΔT

we substitute

3/2 n (T₂-T₁) = W

as the work is on the gas it is negative

W = 3/2 n (T₁- T₂)