A gas is allowed to expand at constant pressure from a volume of 1.0 litre to 10.0 litre against an external pressure of 0.50 atm . If the gas absorbs 250 J of heat from the surroundings , what are the values of q , w and $ \triangle E $ ? ( Given 1 L atm = 101 J ) $
For this problem, we need to determine the values of $q$, $w$, and $ riangle E$.
Given data:
- $q = 250$ J (heat absorbed by the gas)
- Initial volume $V_i = 1.0$ L
- Final volume $V_f = 10.0$ L
- External pressure $P = 0.50$ atm
- 1 L atm = 101 J
First, calculate the work done by the gas during expansion:
$w = -P riangle V = -P (V_f - V_i) = -0.50$ atm $(10.0 - 1.0)$ L
$w = -0.50 imes 9.0$ L atm = $-4.5$ L atm
Convert L atm to Joules:
$w = -4.5 imes 101$ J = $-454.5$ J
Rounding, $w ightarrow -455$ J
Next, calculate the change in internal energy, $ riangle E$:
$ riangle E = q + w = 250$ J $+ (-455)$ J = $-205$ J
Thus, the values are: $q = 250$ J $w = -455$ J $ riangle E = -205$ J