Exam-style question
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What does the area enclosed by a p-V cycle diagram represent?.
- A.The total heat absorbed by the system
- B.The net work output of the cycle
- C.The change in internal energy
- D.The total heat rejected by the system
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The net work output of the cycle
Explanation
Why this works
The area enclosed by a p-V cycle diagram represents the net work output of the cycle. This is because work done by the system during expansion is represented by the area under the curve, while work done on the system during compression is represented by the area above the curve.
The difference between these areas gives the net work output.
Common mistake
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