Question
A cylinder within a piston expands from a volume of 1.00 L to a volume of 5.50 L against an external pressure of 4.50 atm.
Part A
How much work (in J) was done by the expansion?
Express the work to three significant figures and include the appropriate units.
Part A
How much work (in J) was done by the expansion?
Express the work to three significant figures and include the appropriate units.
Answers
Work = -PdV = -4.5 atm*(5.50L-1.00 L) = -20.25 L*atm
Multiply by 101.325 to convert to J. Don't forget the negative sign to show work is being done on the atmosphere.
Multiply by 101.325 to convert to J. Don't forget the negative sign to show work is being done on the atmosphere.
A cylinder within a piston expands from a volume of 1.00 L to a volume of 2.00 L against an external pressure of 1.00 ) atm . How much work ( in J