Question

A gas sample is confined within a chamber that has a movable piston. A small load is placed on the piston; and the system is allowed to reach equilibrium. If the total weight of the piston and load is 70.0 N and the piston has an area of 5.0 × 10 –4 m 2 , what is the pressure exerted on the piston by the gas? Note: Atmospheric pressure is 1.013 × 10 5 Pa.

Answer 1

Explanation:

It is given that,

Total weight of the piston, W = F = 70 N

Area of the piston, $a=5\times 10^{-4}\ m^2$

Let P is the pressure exerted on the piston by the gas. The force per unit area is called the pressure exerted pressure of the gas. Mathematically, it is given by :

$P=\dfrac{F}{A}$

$P=\dfrac{70\ N}{5\times 10^{-4}\ m^2}$

$P=1.4\times 10^5\ Pa$

We know that the atmospheric pressure is given by :

$P_o=1.013\times 10^5\ Pa$

So, the pressure is given by :

$p=P+P_o$

$p=1.4\times 10^5+1.013\times 10^5$

$p=2.41\times 10^5\ Pa$

Hence, this is the required solution.