A2L Item 190
- Description: Identify the work done on a gas during a thermodynamic cycle.
- Goal: Hone the concept of work for a thermodynamic system
- Source: UMPERG-ctqpe190
- Keywords: Graphing, Ideal Gas, Thermodynamics, Work
The question for students:
An
ideal gas is taken around the process shown. The net work done
on the gas is most nearly…
- 20 J
- -30 J
- 15 J
- -10 J
- none of the above
- cannot be determined
Commentary for teachers:
Answer
(4) The work done ON the system is the negative of the area of the triangle. Students selecting answer #1 or #3 need to be sensitized to the difference between work done on the gas versus by the gas.