Question

Show that pressure times volume (PV) is equal to work.

Answer 1

The work is defined as the energy by which a body is displaced through a distance d by applying a force f.

∴ W = f × d

If area is A = d² and volume V = d³ then,

PV = \(\frac{f}{A}\) x d³

= \(\frac{f}{d^2}\) x d³

= f × d = W

∴ The term PV represents the pressure-volume work.