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Thermodynamics
First Law of Thermodynamics
GATE 2008
Medium

A gas expands in a frictionless piston-cylinder arrangement, very slowly, resisted by an ambient pressure of 100 kPa. During expansion, the system pressure remains constant at 300 kPa, and the volume changes by 0.01 m³. The maximum amount of work that could be utilized from the process is

  • A0 kJ
  • B1 kJ
  • 2 kJ
  • D3 kJ

Explanation

Actual boundary work by the gas W=p·ΔV=300×0.01=3 kJ. Of this, the work done pushing back the atmosphere (unavailable/wasted) is p0·ΔV=100×0.01=1 kJ. The remaining USEFUL/utilizable work is 3-1=2 kJ.

Source: GATE ME 2008 (2008)

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