An ideal monatomic gas undergoes a reversible expansion to twice its original volume. Under which one of the following conditions does the gas perform the least amount of work?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In an adiabatic process, there is no heat exchange with the surroundings. For an ideal monatomic gas expanding adiabatically, the work done on or by the gas results in a change in the internal energy of the gas, leading to a decrease in temperature. This process is more constrained in terms of energy distribution than isothermal or constant pressure processes, where heat can flow to or from the surroundings, allowing for potentially more work to be done. Therefore, the adiabatic process results in the least amount of work done during the expansion, as it solely depends on the internal energy change without heat exchange.

An Ideal Monatomic Gas Undergoes a Reversible Expansion to Twice