Question

A sample of gas expands from volume V₁ to V₂. The amount of work done by the gas is greatest, when the expansion is

(a) adiabatic

(b) equal in all cases

(c) isothermal

(d) isobaric

Answer 1

Correct option (d) isobaric

Explanation:

During expansion, work is performed by the gas. The isobaric expansion is represented by the horizontal straight line AB₁, since the adiabatic curve is steeper than the isothermal curve, the adiabatic expansion curve (AB₃) must lie below the isothermal curve (AB₂) as shown in the figure below.

Since area under AB₁, is maximum, the work done is maximum in case of isobaric expansion.