Lesson: Isothermal

Physics

In this lesson, we will learn how to relate the net work done on, the heating of, and the change in internal energy of a gas with varying pressure and/or volume.

Sample Question Videos

07:05
03:35

Worksheet

Q1:

An ideal gas expands quasi-statically to twice its original volume. Determine the ratio of the work done in an isothermal expansion to the work done in an isobaric expansion.

Q2:

0.50 mol of an ideal gas is quasi-statically compressed at constant temperature. The volume of the gas after compression is 0.20 , where is the initial volume of the gas. Calculate the temperature of the gas if J of work was done to compress it.

Q3:

Two moles of helium gas are placed in a cylindrical container with a movable lid held in place by a piston. The gas is at a temperature of and at a pressure of Pa. The pressure supplied by the piston is decreased but the temperature of the gas does not change. The volume of the gas doubles.

Find the work done by the piston on the gas during the expansion.

How much heat enters the gas? Assume ideal gas behavior.

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