Question

What is the work done in an isochoric process?

Answer 1

Hint: We can start by defining what an isochoric process is. We can then move to how work is done in a thermodynamic process. This helps us understand the situation better and to answer the question.

Complete answer:
An isochoric process is also known as a constant-volume process, an isovolumetric process, or an isometric process is a thermodynamic process that maintains a constant volume of the closed system.
The thermodynamic work done by a system is defined as the energy transferred by the system to the surroundings, by a mechanism through which the system can spontaneously exert force on its surroundings.
We can see that an isochoric process is a closed process and a closed system is a physical system that does not allow the transfer of matter in or out of the system, though.
Since there is no transfer of matter or energy from the closed isochoric process to the surroundings or the environment, the work done is zero.
In conclusion, the work done by an isochoric process is zero.

Note: The Otto cycle is one of the examples of an isochoric process where we make the assumption that burning the gasoline-air mixture in an internal combustion engine car is instantaneous. There is an increase in the temperature and the pressure of the gas inside the cylinder when the volume stays exactly the same. The work done by the system depends not only on the initial and final states but also on the intermediate state, that is, on the path.