Energy req'd to compress a gas?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the energy required to compress air from 100ml to 50ml and 25ml volumes. It establishes that work is defined as force times distance, and pressure is force per unit area. The relationship between pressure and volume is governed by the ideal gas law, indicating that compressing air from 100ml at 14.7 psi to 50ml results in a pressure of 29.4 psi. The energy required for compression lies between two extremes: isothermal compression, which occurs slowly, and adiabatic compression, which occurs rapidly.

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  • Understanding of the ideal gas law
  • Familiarity with concepts of isothermal and adiabatic processes
  • Basic knowledge of pressure and volume relationships in gases
  • Fundamentals of work and energy calculations
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ProtoBob
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Hi, I am trying to figure out how much energy would be required to compress air from 100ml
volume to 50ml, and also to 25ml volume...

A nudge in the right direction would be great!

Thank you! :)
 
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Work is force times distance. Pressure is force per unit area. Pressure times volume of a gas is a constant. Enough of a nudge?
 
So if the volume were initially 100 ml and the pressure is 14.7 psi then when compressed to 1/2 the volume, would the pressure then be 14.7 * 2 = 29.4 psi?
 
The answer will liie between two extremesThe minimum energy is when the gas is compressed isothermally [infinitely slowly ]and the maximum when it is compressed adiabatically[infinitely rapidly].
 
Could you explain isothermally and adiabatically?
 

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