An ideal monatomic gas undergoes a reversible expansion to 1.5 times its original volume. In which of these processes does the gas perform the least amount of work?
A) at constant pressure
B) if the pressure increases in proportion to the volume
C) if the pressure decreases in proportion to the volume
D) at constant temperature
E) adiabatically

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In an adiabatic process, there is no heat exchange with the surroundings, and the work done is minimized compared to other processes because the internal energy change is solely due to work done on or by the system.

An Ideal Monatomic Gas Undergoes a Reversible Expansion to 1