Exam-style question
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What does the area under a curve on a p-V diagram represent?.
- A.The total heat supplied to the system
- B.The work done by the gas during expansion
- C.The change in internal energy of the gas
- D.The temperature change of the gas
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The work done by the gas during expansion
Explanation
Why this works
The area under the curve on a p-V diagram represents the work done by the gas during expansion. This is because the work done is calculated as the integral of pressure with respect to volume, which corresponds to the area under the curve.
Therefore, understanding this relationship allows for the analysis of energy transfers in thermodynamic processes.
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