Question

Select the correct statements.
a. the magnitude of work involved in an intermediate irreversible expansion is less than involved in reversible expansion.
b. the magnitude of work involved in an intermediate reversible compression is more than that involved in intermediate irreversible compression.

• A. Statement a
• B. Statement b
• C. neither a nor b
• D. A is correct while b is incorrent
• E. Both the statements are correct

Answer 1

The correct option is E Both the statements are correct

Work done in an irreversible process

$w=-P_{ext}\times \Delta V=-P_{ext}\times (V_2-V_1)=-P_{ext}\times R\left[\frac{P_1{T}_2-P_2{T}_1}{P_1{P}_2}\right]$

$P_{ext}$ is the pressure against which volume changes from $V_{1}to{V}_2$

Work done in reversible process, i.e., Maximum work Isothermal conditions

$w_{rev}=-2.303nRTlo{g}_{10}\left(V_2/V_1\right)$

$w_{rev}=-2.303nRTlo{g}_{10}\left(P_1/P_2\right)$

$W_{rev}$ is maximum work done.