Solve Solid Compressability Homework Problem Involving Copper Block

[dacruick]

Homework Statement

Hello, I have a problem involving a copper block of mass .25kg. They have a given compressibility due to pressure change, and compressibility due to temperature change. They give the density for copper as well. They tell you that the pressure changes from P1 --> P2 isothermally.

It then asks what the amount of heat leaving the system is
The work done on the copper block
and the total change in internal energy

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

what I've done already is figured out the volume change due to the pressure change.

Using this volume change I can theoretically find the work done using -nRT*ln(Vf/Vi). The only problem is I don't have a value for the moles. I could find it if i had the molar mass of copper, but I don't, and this is a practice exam problem.

If i assume that because temperature change is 0, the change in internal energy is 0. Then heat will equal negative work. but i have a strong feeling this is wrong.

 

[zhermes]

In an isothermal process, the work done is simply the pressure times the change in volume, i.e.
$$W = P\Delta V$$
Does that help?