Topic: Thermodynamics
Starting from the same initial conditions, an ideal gas expands from volume V1 to V2 in three different ways, the work done by the gas is W1 if the process is purely isothermal, W2 if purely isobaric and W3 is purely adiabatic, then
- A. W2 > W1 > W3
- B. W2 > W3 > W1
- C. W1 > W2 > W3
- D. W1 > W3 > W2
Answer: A. W2 > W1 > W3
Explanation: The area under the P-V diagram equals the work done during any thermodynamic process. For an expansion from volume V1 to V2, the constant pressure (isobaric) process exhibits the highest area under the curve, followed by the constant temperature (isothermal) process, while the adiabatic process has the least area. Therefore, the work done follows the order W2 > W1 > W3.