Which of the following graphs between pressure 'p' versus volume 'V' represents the maximum work done?
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Answer
(1) [figure]
Solution
The magnitude of work done by the gas is the area under the p–V curve; for a cyclic process it is the area enclosed by the cycle.
(1) Reversible isothermal expansion from 22.4 L, 2.0 bar to 44.8 L, 1.0 bar (pV = 44.8 L bar, constant), so
|w| = 2.303 pV V2V1
|w| = 2.303 44.8 2
|w| 31.0 L bar
(2) The volume is constant (isochoric), so V = 0 and w = 0.
(3) In this cycle the gas expands along the isotherm (31.0 L bar), is compressed at 1.0 bar from 44.8 L to 22.4 L (22.4 L bar) and then undergoes an isochoric step (0), so
net |w| = 31.0 - 22.4 = 8.6 L bar
(4) The cycle runs between the same two states along two different paths, so the net work is only the small area enclosed between the two curves.
Maximum work is done in (1).
Answer: (1)