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Notes

Uploaded by

brannmaclein
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Week 2

Work
Objectives
By the end of this lecture you should be able to
 Define work in terms of pressure and work.
 Give the relationship between various forms of work
 Solve problems involving work
Introduction
In thermodynamics work performed by the system is the energy transferred by the
system to its surroundings it is denoted by w. work as the energy used to cause an
object with mass to move against a force. It is defined as the product of the applied
force (F) and the distance (d) moved along the direction of the force. This is the
mechanical type of work. Other types of work include:
a. Gravitational work w = Mass x gravity x height i.e. m = mgh
b. Electrical work – if an electrical potential, e, is applied across resistance so
that the current, I, if follows then work is done per time.
c. Pressure volume work – is a type of mechanical work performed when a
system changes the volume against an opposing pressure. This is also known
as expansion or compression.

Work done in gas expansion and compression


p

h
A

Consider a gas in a glass cylinder fitted with weightless frictionless movable piston at a
certain temperature, pressure and volume. As it expands, the gas inside pushes the piston
upwards against a constant opposing external pressure. Work done due to expansion of
the gas: One does work when for example pumping air in a bicycle pump. The
compressed air in the pump does the work of expansion of the tube against the constant
atmospheric pressure. The pressure is applied to a piston in a cylinder of area A, so that it
compresses the gas inside to sa distance, h
Therefore we can say that
External work done (w) =force (F) x distance or height.
i. w = force x distance i.e. w =f x d
Force F
Pressure= P=
ii. Area i.e A

F
P=
From A we have f = PA
Substitute f in w =f x d

W =PA x d
W = PAd
But Ax d = V
Then W = PV
So W = P ∆ V
∆ V is the change in volume which is given by final volume –initial volume
Where ∆ V =Vf – Vi
For work to be done: W = - P∆ V Conventionally
A sample of gas expands in volume from 2.0 litres to 6.0 litres at constant temperature.
Calculate the work done by the gas if it expands.
a. Against a vacuum.
b. Against a constant external pressure of 1.2 bar

Solution:
W = - P∆ V
Vi = 2.0
Vf = 2.6
P external = 0
W = -0 x (6.2)
=0J
b) W = - P∆ V
pext = 1.2
-1.2(6-2)
= -4.8 L bar
1 l bar = 100 J
-4.8 x 102J
In changing from one state to another, a system may do external work. If the system does
external work w is negative if work is done on the system when the system is compressed. The
system may absorb heat, q, from the surroundings in this case, q is positive otherwise it is
negative if the system gives out heat.
Assignment
a) When one mole of water, at 100 oC and 1 atm pressure, is converted to steam, at 100 oC.
The amount of heat absorbed is 40670 J. Calculate ∆E for the change.
b) Two moles of an ideal gas at 273 K and 101325 NM -2 pressure expand from 0.056 M3 to
0.28 M3 at the same temperature. Determine the work done.

Summary

Mechanical work is product of the applied force and the distance moved along the
direction of the force. Work is performed when volume of gases expands at constant
pressure. Therefore the product of pressure and varying volume is important in
determination of work done chemical thermodynamics.

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