## Difference in Wirr and Wrev

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

Ryan Yoon 1L
Posts: 55
Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2019 12:15 am

### Difference in Wirr and Wrev

Why are Reversible processes do more work than irreversible processes?

Kate Osborne 1H
Posts: 102
Joined: Fri Aug 30, 2019 12:16 am

### Re: Difference in Wirr and Wrev

irreversible processes are done under constant pressure while reversible are not, and since w is a product of pressure and volume, work is higher when pressure is not constant because the gas will have to do more work

905373636
Posts: 62
Joined: Thu Aug 01, 2019 12:15 am

### Re: Difference in Wirr and Wrev

Wrev is an ideal situation with constant Temperature; Wirr is the more realistic and non-constant Temperature scenario and thus it does less work.

Celine 1F
Posts: 120
Joined: Fri Aug 02, 2019 12:16 am

### Re: Difference in Wirr and Wrev

Irreversible processes are done under pressure that remains constant whereas reversible processes aren't. Gases have to do more work when pressure is not constant, which is why reversible processes do more work.

Justin Seok 2A
Posts: 104
Joined: Sat Aug 24, 2019 12:15 am

### Re: Difference in Wirr and Wrev

Reversible processes can be thought of as the maximum work possible done by the gas, as external pressure constantly changes in order to match the internal pressure. Irreversible processes simply have constant external pressure, so the work done would not be as high.