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Physics Help! How much work is done on the gas in the process shown in the figure?

I have been trying to solve a question for a while now, and I believe I have the answer, but I need some assistance. How much work is done on the gas in the process shown in Figure 1? You can view the figure here: http://session.masteringphysics.com/problemAsset/1. I used the formula W = p(Vf – Vi) and calculated -80,000 J, but it was marked incorrect. Could someone help me understand where I might have gone wrong? Thank you!

1 Answers

A
Anonymous

Feb 11, 2025

you have forgotten that the volumes are quoted in cm^3 not m^3

yet your pressures are kPa which is kN per square METRE.

You ALSO need to use Pa not kPa as the pressure ie must include the 10^3 which is how many pascals there are in a kPa

so the change in volume is 200 * 10 ^ -6 m^3

Hence the work is 400* 10 ^ 3 * 200 * 10 ^ -6 = 80000 * 10 ^ -3 J = 80 J

And as the question is asking for work done ON THE GAS the result must be a positive.

You have compressed the gas against its pressure.

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