Work (in general) [ENDORSED]

[Kayla Tchorz-Dis 1F]

How do you know which work equation to use?

[Esin Gumustekin 2J]

To find work I always use Work = Fd (opposing force x distance moved). I don't think we learned any other formulas including work in lecture yet.

[Tiffany Dao 1A]

In the book there is also an equation for work that relates the external pressure and volume.
w = -Pex x Delta V

[Jana Sun 1I]

For reversible reactions, you would use work= -nRT(ln(Vf/Vi)) or work= -nRT(ln(Pi/Pf)). For irreversible reactions, which we'll probably need to know better for the first exam at least, we use the work equation described above aka work= -(Pext)(delta V).

[Maria1E]

For irreversible reactions, use w = -P(delta V). However, depending on the information you are given you may also need to use w = -(delta n)RT since PV = nRT.