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

Answer:

W = 3/2 n (T₁- T₂)

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)