## Reversible Expansion

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

Bianca Barcelo 4I
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:17 am
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### Reversible Expansion

What exactly is reversible expansion? Also, how would you calculate the work of a gas that is reversibly expanding?

Manu Vohra 1L
Posts: 61
Joined: Wed Oct 03, 2018 12:15 am

### Re: Reversible Expansion

The equation we use is :
A reversible process is a process whose direction can be "reversed" by inducing infinitesimal changes to some property of the system via its surroundings.
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Lorena Zhang 4E
Posts: 63
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:16 am

### Re: Reversible Expansion

For example, the volume of the gas inside the container would not be fixed. It would increase/decrease depending on the pressure. We calculate the work of reversible expansion by using integral since the pressure keeps changing. The final equation would be w=-nRTln(V2/V1).

Maayan Epstein 14B
Posts: 39
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:20 am

### Re: Reversible Expansion

Something else to note is that this equation is only used when temperature is constant, because all the other q equations involve a delta T, whereas this one is just T by itself.