Is Any Work Done When Expanding Gas in a Rigid Container?

[zulfiqar6]

Homework Statement

I can't figure this out...if you have a gas in a rigid container, with a membrane separating the gas from a vacuum in the other half of the container, then remove the membrane and allow the gas to expand, is any work done? It's not expanding against force - does that make work done 0?

Homework Equations

W = P*V

The Attempt at a Solution

dV is positive, so work is also positive?
Except P = 0 from the other side, which would seem to make W = 0*dV = 0

 

[vela]

You're right. The work is 0 because the gas doesn't have to push against anything to expand.