Question

When an ideal gas is compressed in a piston using 5 atm of pressure through a 50-metre cube of volume, what is the amount of work done?

(a) 10 Newton metre

(b) 0.1 Newton metre

(c) 250 Newton metre

(d) 55 Newton metre

I got this question at a job interview.

This interesting question is from Thermodynamics Applications topic in section Thermodynamics of Chemistry – Class 11

Answer 1

The correct option is (c) 250 Newton metre

Best explanation: When a pressure P is exerted through a volume V the work done is given by P ΔV, so here pressure is 5 atm and volume is a 50-metre cube. The work that is done is 5 atm X 50-metre cube = 250 Newton metre.