The discussion revolves around a thermodynamics problem involving the isothermal and reversible expansion of gas in a closed system. The original poster presents a scenario where a specific mass of gas is expanded from one pressure to another, seeking to determine the work done during this process.
The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the problem and questioning the assumptions made about the nature of the work involved. Some guidance has been offered regarding the need for integration in the context of the work done, but no consensus has been reached on a specific method or solution.
There is a mention of the original poster's desire to avoid receiving direct answers, indicating a focus on understanding the problem rather than simply obtaining a solution. Additionally, there is a debate about whether the problem requires calculus or can be approached with algebraic methods.
Chet, I'm sure this is an algebra based physics question, not calculus.Chestermiller said:What is the equation for the differential work dW done by a gas on its surroundings in terms of the external force per unit area Pext and the differential change in volume dV? For a reversible process, how is the external force per unit area Pext related to the gas pressure?
Chet
Really. What makes you think so? This problem can not be solved correctly unless PdV is integrated, or the person has a formula for the result of the PdV integration.DrewHizzy said:Chet, I'm sure this is an algebra based physics question, not calculus.