Work done by gas expanding into a cylinder+piston system

  • #1
LCSphysicist
636
153
Homework Statement:
A thin-walled metal container of volume V contains a gas at high pressure.
Connected to the container is a capillary tube and stopcock. When the stopcock is
opened slightly, the gas leaks slowly into a cylinder equipped with a nonleaking,
frictionless piston, where the pressure remains constant at the atmospheric value $P_0$.
(a) Show that, after as much gas as possible has leaked out, an amount of work $P_0(V_0-V)$
has been done, where $V_0$ is the volume of the gas at atmospheric pressure and
temperature.
(b) How much work would be done if the gas leaked directly into the atmosphere?
Relevant Equations:
.
I will summarize briefly my reasoning for both letters, since the answer is immediately after that:

A) The work is quasi-static, and the pressure is approximatelly constant and equal to the atmospheric pressure, so the works is $$W = -p\int dV = -p_{0} (V_{0}-V)$$
B) The work is fast, fast enough that no heat flows thought the gas, so that the work is $$W = -\int p dV = -\int_{V_i}^{V_f} p_i (V_i)^{\gamma} dV /V^{\gamma}$$ $$ P_i V_i^{\gamma} / P_o = V_f ^{\gamma}$$

What do you think? I am almost sure it is wrong, so i am posting here to get any help on letter b
 

Answers and Replies

  • #3
LCSphysicist
636
153
If your system is the gas, why do you feel that the answer to B is different from A?
As i said, because the first one "leaks slowly", and nothing has been said about the second one, so i suppose it is more "explosive".

I have questioned myself also if the work is the same, but i was not able to argue why it should be. Even so the final points on (PV space) is the same, the path could be different, resulting in different work.
 
  • #4
22,425
5,260
The question implies that the gas is still leaking slowly in case B, but into the atmosphere instead of into a cylinder and piston.
 

Suggested for: Work done by gas expanding into a cylinder+piston system

  • Last Post
Replies
4
Views
193
  • Last Post
Replies
4
Views
319
Replies
17
Views
245
Replies
2
Views
707
  • Last Post
3
Replies
94
Views
1K
  • Last Post
Replies
10
Views
457
  • Last Post
2
Replies
59
Views
1K
  • Last Post
Replies
6
Views
561
  • Last Post
Replies
7
Views
797
Top