Calculating Work in Ideal Gas Systems with Movable Pistons

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the work done on an ideal gas enclosed in a cylinder with a movable piston as its temperature increases from T1 to T2. The relevant equations include the ideal gas law (PV = nRT) and the work formula (W = -∫P dV). The participants clarify that the work is done on the gas, not by it, and emphasize the importance of understanding the relationship between pressure, volume, and temperature in this context. The solution involves integrating the pressure with respect to volume while keeping the pressure constant.

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  • Basic principles of gas behavior under constant pressure conditions
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Homework Statement



An ideal gas is enclosed in a cylinder that has a movable piston on top. The piston has a mass m and an area A and is free to slide up and down, keeping the pressure of the gas constant. How much work is done on the gas as the temperature of n mol of the gas is raised from T1 to T2? (Use T_1 for T1, T_2 for T2, and m, A, R, and n as necessary.)

Homework Equations


n=m/M
P=F/A
PV=nRT
PV=(kB)T
W=- integral of P dV from Vf to Vi ( sorry I was not sure how to format this!)

The Attempt at a Solution


I was not sure how to go about doing this. Do I set the ideal gas law equal to volume and then plug that into work?
 
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Is this work done on the gas or by the gas?
 
It's the work that is done on the gas I believe.
 

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