In an adiabatic expansion of an ideal gas, 150 J of work is performed on the surroundings. The change in the internal energy of the gas is

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In an adiabatic process, there is no heat exchange with the surroundings. According to the first law of thermodynamics, the change in internal energy (∆U) is equal to the heat added to the system (Q) minus the work done by the system (W). Since Q = 0 for an adiabatic process, ∆U = -W. If the gas does 150 J of work on the surroundings, W = 150 J, and thus ∆U = -150 J.

In an Adiabatic Expansion of an Ideal Gas, 150 J