Pressure–Volume Integral Expressions for Work in Irreversible Processes

Abstract

Different formulations of thermodynamic work w as a pressure–volume integral are examined for a piston moving against a gas in an irreversible process. Proper expressions are obtained using the instantaneous pressure of the gas on the piston as the integrand and also using certain external pressures as the integrand. There are two common yet different ways to define thermodynamic work, and results are obtained for both definitions. In addition, the contribution to w of the atmosphere in such processes is evaluated. An example is given that illustrates the points made in the paper.

Publisher

American Chemical Society

Publication Date

1-1-2007

Publication Title

Journal of Chemical Education

Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ed084p499

Keywords

Calorimetry, Thermochemistry

Language

English

Format

text

Link to Full Text

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