If a certain mass of gas is made to undergo separately adiabatic and i...
Comparison of Adiabatic and Isothermal Expansion of Gas
Introduction
When a gas undergoes expansion, it can do so either adiabatically or isothermally. In adiabatic expansion, no heat is exchanged between the gas and its surroundings, while in isothermal expansion, the temperature of the gas remains constant. In this response, we will compare the two types of expansion.
Pressure-Volume Relationship
The pressure-volume relationship for adiabatic expansion is given by the formula PV^γ = constant, where γ is the ratio of specific heats of the gas. For isothermal expansion, the formula is PV = constant. This means that for the same initial conditions of temperature and pressure, the final volume will be greater for adiabatic expansion than for isothermal expansion.
Temperature Change
During adiabatic expansion, the temperature of the gas decreases because no heat is added to the system. The temperature change is given by the formula ΔT = -T/γ * (Vf/Vi - 1), where T is the initial temperature, Vi is the initial volume, and Vf is the final volume. For isothermal expansion, the temperature remains constant, so there is no temperature change.
Work Done
The work done during adiabatic expansion is greater than that during isothermal expansion because the gas expands against greater resistance due to the decrease in temperature. The work done during adiabatic expansion is given by the formula W = (PfVi - PiVi)/(γ - 1), where Pf is the final pressure and Pi is the initial pressure. For isothermal expansion, the work done is given by the formula W = RT ln(Vf/Vi), where R is the gas constant and ln is the natural logarithm.
Conclusion
In conclusion, adiabatic expansion leads to a greater final volume, a decrease in temperature, and greater work done than isothermal expansion. These differences arise because of the absence of heat exchange in adiabatic expansion.