Practice question
Question
A gas is compressed adiabatically, doing 300 J of work on the system. What is the change in internal energy?
Explanation
**Heat and work distinction** heat is energy transfer due to temperature difference, random molecular motion, work is organized energy transfer due to macroscopic force, e.g., piston movement, both path functions depend on process, not state, internal energy U state function depends only on state (T for ideal gas), ΔU path independent, Q and W path dependent but Q-W = ΔU path independent. For adiabatic ( Δ Q = 0 ), First Law: Δ U = -Δ W . Work on system: Δ W = -300 J (negative by convention). Δ U = -(-300) = 300 J . Using first law ΔU = Q - W,
Discussion
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