Question

Monatomic, diatomic and polyatomic ideal gases each undergo slow adiabatic expansions from the same initial volume and same initial pressure to the same final volume. The magnitude of the work done by the environment on the gas is

• A. the greatest for polyatomic gas
• B. the greatest for monatomic gas
• C. the greatest for diatomic gas
• D. the question is irrelevant, there is no meaning of slow adiabatic expansion

Answer 1

The correct option is A the greatest for polyatomic gas

W = $\frac{nRdT}{\gamma -1}$ $\gamma$ is minimum for a polyatomic gas
Hence, W is greatest for polyatomic gas