Problem 20.10: Find work and heat input or output for a compression

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A mass is pushed downward on top of a container with 3 moles of an ideal monatomic gas inside as shown in the animation (position is given in meters and time is given in seconds). The pressure remains constant as indicated by the round pressure gauge. Restart.

  1. If the initial temperature is 20°C, what is the work done on the gas?
  2. How much heat is absorbed or released in the process?
  3. Draw a PV diagram.

Problem authored by Anne J. Cox.
Script authored by Anne J Cox and Mario Belloni.