In certain cases, we can relate the value of q to the change in volume of a system and so can calculate, for instance, the flow of energy as heat into the system when a gas expands. The simplest cas is that of a perfect gas undergoing isothermal expansion. Because the expansion is isothermal, the temperature of the gas is the same at the end of the expansion as it was initially. Therefore, the mean speed of the molecules of the gas is the same before and after the expansion. That implies in turn that the total kinetic E of the molecules is the same. But for a perfect gas, the only contribution to the energy is the kinetic E of the molecules; so, we have to conclude that the total E of the gas is the same before and after the expansion. E has left the system as work; therefore, a compensating amount of E must have entered the system as heat. We can therefore write "For the isothermal expansion of a perfect gas: q = -w "
2006-09-01
18:00:39
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5 answers
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asked by
SmartoGuy
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