Question

A gas expands its volume from 4.7 L to 8.9 L at constant temperature. Answer the following:

a) If the gas expands against vacuum conditions, calculate the work (in joules) done by the gas.

b) Calculate the work done (in joules) by the gas if it expands against a constant pressure of 4.7 atm.

Answer 1

work = -pdV
a. If p is zero, then pdV is 0

b. substitute into the equation. dV is V2-V1.

Answer 2

Note that work in the above is in L*atm. You must change this to joules.