tvd7 Posted June 4, 2008 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 I have my Paper 1 mock this Friday and I've been doing in depth review of all the topics covered. There's just one thing which I can't figure out in Thermal Physics which is explaining Work on a gas pressure-Volume diagram. When the pressure is constant and volume decreases, I understand that work is done by an external force, and when pressure constant and volume increases the work is done by the gas. But what happens when the pressure is not held constant and volume increases? (i.e. the gradient is diagonal) Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
appleme Posted June 7, 2008 Report Share Posted June 7, 2008 on a gas pressure-volume diagram when volume AND pressure change (so temperature is constant [boyle's law]): there isn't really an answer... work done= p * change in v but p is not a constant value in the case you've given so basically the whole thing would be waaaaay too complicated to work out - i doubt the ib will ask it Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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