A sample of ideal gas is compressed from an initial volume $V_1$ to a final volume $V_2$ ($V_2

Question

A sample of ideal gas is compressed from an initial volume $V_1$ to a final volume $V_2$ ($V_2 < V_1$). The magnitude of the work done ON the gas is greatest when the compression process is

Professor PC Thomas Classes · Answer

(c) : On a $P-V$ diagram starting from the same initial state and moving to a smaller volume, the adiabatic curve is steeper than the isothermal curve, and both lie above the horizontal isobaric curve. Because the magnitude of work done is the area under the $P-V$ curve, the adiabatic compression curve has the maximum area beneath it. Therefore, the most work must be done on the gas during an adiabatic compression.