Drawing a PV Diagram: Solving Homework w/ Work Calculation

[imatreyu]

Homework Statement

One mole of an ideal gas at an inital tempreature of 300K and pressure of 4 atm is carried through the following reversible cycle:

a) It expands isothermally until its volume is doubled.
b) It is compressed to its original volume at constant pressure.
c) It is compressed isothermally to a pressure of 4 atm.
d) It expands at constant pressure to its original volume

Make a plot of this cycle process on a PV diagram and calculate the work done by the gas per cycle.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

Okay so step a. means that while Vo goes to 2Vo the pressure doubles as well, yes? And step b means that the pressure is the same but the volume goes to Vo. And so then step C should mean that since P is returning to its initial, the gas returns to Vo too, right? But if that's true, then D doesn't make sense since it has already returned to Vo.

Please help! Once I get the diagram correct, I'm just going to use the area to find the work done.

 

[gneill]

Okay so step a. means that while Vo goes to 2Vo the pressure doubles as well, yes?

Take a look at the PV = nRT equation. If T is held constant (isothermal), how must P and V relate to each other?

And step b means that the pressure is the same but the volume goes to Vo. And so then step C should mean that since P is returning to its initial, the gas returns to Vo too, right?

Again, take a look at PV = nRT. What's the current volume and pressure when step C begins? How do P and V vary when the compression (or expansion) is isothermal?

 

[imatreyu]

Oh okay haha. . .P has to be half. . .

Thank you :)