Exam-style question
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In which situation would work done be greater than heat supplied in a thermodynamic process?.
- A.When a gas expands against a piston and does work on the surroundings.
- B.When a gas is heated without doing any work.
- C.When a gas is compressed and work is done on it.
- D.When heat is removed from a gas without changing its volume.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- When a gas is compressed and work is done on it.
Explanation
Why this works
In a compression process, work is done on the gas, increasing its internal energy, which can exceed the heat supplied if the system is not allowed to exchange heat with the surroundings. This scenario illustrates how work can dominate energy changes in certain thermodynamic processes.
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