I just received some clarification with my prof. Apparently there is no initial heat transfer. Instead the linear spring has a negative spring constant. Can someone please explain how this would work.
A piston / cylinder arrangement with an initial volume of 1 ft^3 contains water at P = 20 psia, T = 320 F. The piston expands against a linear spring until the final temperature and pressure are P = 10 psia, T = 400 F.
D)calculate the work and heat transfer in the process, and report in BTU...