## reversible & irreversible expansion

$w=-P\Delta V$
and
$w=-\int_{V_{1}}^{V_{2}}PdV=-nRTln\frac{V_{2}}{V_{1}}$

Lorena Zhang 4E
Posts: 63
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:16 am

### reversible & irreversible expansion

Why that the maximum work is done by the reversible expansion?

Mona El Masri 1F
Posts: 34
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:20 am

### Re: reversible & irreversible expansion

The reversible expansion does the maximum amount of work because the gas is pushing against the maximum possible external pressure

Tatum Keichline 2B
Posts: 64
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:26 am

### Re: reversible & irreversible expansion

The irreversible wouldn't be doing the maximum amount of work because the outside pressure was only 1 atm compared to the inside pressure of 2 atm, so this doesn't represent the work against maximum pressure. On the other hand, the reversible pressure is at equilibrium, so it is expanding against the max pressure, therefore, doing more work.

### Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest