Question

Calculate the work done by adiabatic compression of one mole of an ideal gas (mono atomic) from an initial pressure of 1 atm to final pressure of 2 atm. Initial temperature = 300 K.
(a)If the process is carried out reversibly
(b) If the process is carried out irreversibly against 2 atm external pressure.
Compute the final volume reached by gas in two cases and describe the work graphically.

Answer 1

Hint: Adiabatic compression is taking place, means that the energy is transferred to the surroundings. Here compression is taking place that causes a temperature rise in the gas.
Formula used: $W_{adiabatic}=\int -PdV$

Complete answer:
(a) We have been given 1 mole of an ideal gas with initial pressure $P_1$ = 1 atm, final pressure$P_2$= 2 atm. With initial temperature= 300 K. Heat capacity of an ideal gas at constant volume $C_v=$ 3 ${\displaystyle \frac{3R}{2}}$ , so, r= ${\displaystyle \frac{5}{3}}$
Now to calculate work done , when the process is carried reversibly, we have to take out the volume,
As, PV=nRT
We have, P = $P_2-P_1$= 1 , n = 1, R= 0.082, T= 300 K
So, $1\times V=1\times 0.082\times 300$
$V_1$ = 24.63
For reversible process in adiabatic compression, $P_1{V}_1=P_2{V}_2$
$1\times {(24.63)}^r=2\times {V_2}^r$where r = 1.66, so, ${\left({\displaystyle \frac{24.6}{V_2}}\right)}^{1.66}$
Therefore, $1.66\times \log \left({\displaystyle \frac{24.6}{V_2}}\right)=\log 2$
So, $V_2=18.15L$
Now, in adiabatic compression work done is, $W_{adiabatic}=\int -PdV$
$W_{adiabatic}=\int {\displaystyle \frac{CdV}{V^{1-r}}}$= 1194.72 J
So, work done is 1194.72 J
Now, for final temperature,$P^{1-r}{V}^r$ = constant for reversible compression,
${P_2}^{1-{\displaystyle \frac{5}{3}}}{T_2}^{{\displaystyle \frac{5}{3}}}={P_1}^{-{\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}}}{T_1}^3$
$2^{-2300}{\left[{\displaystyle \frac{T}{300}}\right]}^5=1$
${\displaystyle \frac{T}{300}}=4^{{\displaystyle \frac{1}{5}}}$
T = $4^{{}^1/{}_5}\times$ 300
$T_2$ = 395.85
Hence, work done in this case is 1194.72 J and final volume is $V_2=18.15L$
(b) now, we have to calculate work done when the process is irreversible against 2 atm external pressure.
For this, PV=nRT = 300 R
We know that, $n{C}_v\mathrm{\Delta }T=-P_2(V_2-V_1)$
$1\times {\displaystyle \frac{3R}{2}}(T_2-T_1)=-2(V_2-V_1)$
${\displaystyle \frac{3R}{2}}(T_2-300)=-V_2\times R+2\times 300R$
${\displaystyle \frac{3R}{2}}-450=-T_2.1+600$
${\displaystyle \frac{5T_2}{2}}=1050$
$T_2={\displaystyle \frac{2100}{5}}$
$T_2=420K$
So, volume will be, $V_2={\displaystyle \frac{R\times 420}{2}}$ = 210 R
$V_2=$ 17.24 L
So, work done will be $W=-2(V_2-V_1)$
$W=-2(210R-300R)$
W = 180 R
W = 1496.525 J
Hence, work done in this case is 1496.525 J and final volume is $V_2=$ 17.24 L
For both the volumes the graph between pressure and volume will be plotted as,

The work done in adiabatic compression is the area under the curve. In both the cases, the final volume is greater than the initial volume.

Note:
In adiabatic compression we will obtain the final temperatures in both the cases to be greater than initial temperatures, as the gas has been compressed. In the second case, the final temperature is higher than the first case, because external pressure of 2 atm is also applied.