Whenever a gas is compressed,
A) work must be done on the gas.
B) its internal energy must get smaller.
C) heat must leave the gas.
D) the temperature of the gas must get smaller.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a gas is compressed, work must be done on the gas to overcome the pressure and decrease its volume. This work is done on the gas by an external force or by the gas itself, in the case of adiabatic compression. The internal energy of the gas may increase or decrease depending on whether heat is transferred during the compression, but it is not always the case that the internal energy must get smaller. The temperature of the gas may also increase or decrease depending on the circumstances, but it is not a necessary consequence of compression.

Whenever a Gas Is Compressed