Question

Starting with the same initial conditions, an ideal gas expands from volume ${{V}_{1}}$ to ${{V}_{2}}$ in three different ways. The work done by the gas is ${{W}_{1}}$ if the process purely isothermal, ${{W}_{2}}$ if purely isobaric and ${{W}_{3}}$ if purely adiabatic. Then

• A. ${{W}_{2}}>{{W}_{1}}>{{W}_{3}}$
• B. ${{W}_{2}}>{{W}_{3}}>{{W}_{1}}$
• C. ${{W}_{1}}>{{W}_{2}}>{{W}_{3}}$
• D. ${{W}_{1}}>{{W}_{3}}>{{W}_{2}}$

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

${{W}_{2}}>{{W}_{1}}>{{W}_{3}}$

Answer 2

Work done is equal to area under the curve on p-V diagram. This is largest for isobaric process and least for adiabatic expansion.