Answer to Question #172773 in Molecular Physics | Thermodynamics for Bahaa

Question

10 moles of an ideal gas are compressed isothermally and reversibly 

from a pressure of 1 atm to 10 atm at 300 K. (a) How much work is done 

on the gas? (b) How much work is done on the gas in the reverse process?

Answer 1

a) Work done: $W=−nRTln\frac{P_2}{P_1}=−2.303\times10\times8.314\times300log\frac{1}{10}=-57441.4 \ J ​$ ​

b) As process is reverse, than W₂ = -W₁ = 57441.4 J