B Free Expansion of Gas: Internal Energy & Work

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In a free adiabatic expansion of gas, the first law of thermodynamics indicates that the change in internal energy is zero (dQ=0), leading to no work being done despite the change in accessible volume. For ideal gases, temperature remains constant during this process, while real gases experience a temperature decrease due to intermolecular attractions as they expand. The attractive forces between particles result in a lower overall potential energy when the gas occupies a larger volume. However, some gases, like helium, can exhibit heating upon expansion if the temperature is above their inversion temperature. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for differentiating between ideal and real gas behaviors during expansion.
Apashanka
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If a gas is suddenly allowed to expand freely and adibatically inside a container then from the first law of thermodynamics dQ=0,
My question is whether the change of internal energy would be 0 and if it then how would the work done be 0 (since accessible volume of the gas changes inside the container changes)??
Thqnks
 
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Apashanka said:
Thanks that's clear now but temp remains constt for ideal gas but for real gas it decrease ,can you please help me in clearing this concept
Thank you
For a real gas, you have to take into account the interaction between particles. In most cases, there is an overall attractive interaction (negative potential energy) which leads to a decrease in temperature when the gas expands and the attraction between the particle is globally lower because of the greater volume occupied. Note that this is not always true, as each gas has an inversion temperature above which the gas will heat upon expansion. This is already the case at room temperature and pressure for helium.
 
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