Reversible Expansion vs Irreversible Expansion
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Tasnia Haider 1E
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Reversible Expansion vs Irreversible Expansion
Why does a reversible expansion do more work than an irreversible expansion?
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Clarisse Wikstrom 1H
- Posts: 63
- Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:05 am
Re: Reversible Expansion vs Irreversible Expansion
Example...
Irreversible: 4 atm --> 2 atm
Reversible (@ equilibrium): 3 atm --> 3 atm
Which one does more work, the one pushing on 2 atm or the one pushing on 3 atm? @ equilibrium, the system is theoretically doing the max work it can. That's why reversible reactions do not often occur in biological systems.
Irreversible: 4 atm --> 2 atm
Reversible (@ equilibrium): 3 atm --> 3 atm
Which one does more work, the one pushing on 2 atm or the one pushing on 3 atm? @ equilibrium, the system is theoretically doing the max work it can. That's why reversible reactions do not often occur in biological systems.
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