An ideal gas is compressed to half its initial volume by means of several processes. Which of the process results in the maximum work done on the gas ?
- Isochoric
- Isothermal
- Adiabatic
- Isobaric
Answer
(3) Adiabatic
Solution
Work done on the gas = area under the P–V curve from V0 to V02.
Isochoric: volume cannot change, so this process cannot compress the gas.
Isobaric: P stays constant, W = P0V02 = 0.5 P0V0
Isothermal: W = P0V0 2 0.69 P0V0
Adiabatic: PV = constant, P rises fastest (steepest curve)
W = P0V0(2 - 1 - 1) - 1 0.80 P0V0 (for = 1.4)
Maximum work is done on the gas in adiabatic compression.
Answer: (3)