On a P-V diagram, if the pressure stays constant and the volume

Thread starter P-Jay1
Start date Oct 10, 2011
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Constant Diagram P-v diagram Pressure Volume

In summary, on a P-V diagram, a horizontal line indicates a constant pressure (isobaric) process where the system is either absorbing or releasing heat. The volume changes depending on the direction of the process, and if the pressure remains constant, the work done by the system will also depend on the direction. Additionally, when the pressure is constant, the volume and temperature are directly proportional, and a process cannot have both a constant pressure and volume at the same time on a P-V diagram.

Oct 10, 2011

P-Jay1

On a P-V diagram, if the pressure stays constant and the volume increases, what happens to the temperature?

Does it increase, decrease, or stay the same?

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Oct 10, 2011

LawrenceC

Assuming an ideal gas you can look at polytropic relations where P*V**n = constant.

This leads to T2/T1 = (V1/V2)**(n-1)

What do you know about n for an isobaric process?

Related to On a P-V diagram, if the pressure stays constant and the volume

1. How does the volume change if the pressure stays constant on a P-V diagram?

The volume will increase or decrease depending on the direction of the process. If the process is isobaric (constant pressure), the volume will increase if the system absorbs heat and decreases if the system releases heat.

2. What does a horizontal line on a P-V diagram indicate if the pressure is constant?

A horizontal line on a P-V diagram represents an isobaric process, where the pressure remains constant. This means that the system is either absorbing or releasing heat, but the pressure remains the same.

3. How does the work done by the system change if the pressure is constant on a P-V diagram?

If the pressure remains constant, the work done by the system will depend on the direction of the process. If the system expands, work is done by the system and if the system compresses, work is done on the system.

4. What is the relationship between volume and temperature on a P-V diagram when the pressure is constant?

The volume and temperature are directly proportional when pressure is constant. This means that if the volume increases, the temperature will also increase and vice versa.

5. Can a process on a P-V diagram have a constant pressure and volume at the same time?

No, a process cannot have both a constant pressure and volume at the same time on a P-V diagram. This is because a constant pressure process requires the volume to change, while a constant volume process requires the pressure to change.