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Question

What happens to the internal energy of a system when work is done on it in an adiabatic process?

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Explanation

**Cyclic work** equals area inside loop, for rectangular cycle P₁V₁→P₂V₁→P₂V₂→P₁V₂→P₁V₁, W = (P₂-P₁)(V₂-V₁), heat absorbed and rejected during different legs, net work output for heat engine, input for refrigerator. In an adiabatic process ( Δ Q = 0 ), Δ U = -Δ W (First Law). If work is done on the system ( Δ W < 0 ), Δ U becomes positive, increasing the internal energy. Using first law ΔU = Q - W, W = ∫ P dV, isobaric W = P ΔV, isothermal W = n R T ln(V₂/V₁), adiabatic P V^γ = const and η = 1 - T_c/T_h, evaluation yields

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