Calculating Work

[Meagan Kimbrell 1I]

When a question is asking us to "calculate the work" of a process, how do we clarify whether they are asking for the work ON the system or work BY the system?
Thanks in advance!

[Alex_Lee_1K]

I am unsure if this will answer your question however, they will most likely clarify where the work is being done. For example, if the work is in the form of expansion, like pushing up on a piston, it will have a positive work BY the system and a negative work ON the system. On the other hand, if the work is in the form of compression, like pushing down on a piston from the outside, the work by the system will be negative and the work on the system will be positive.