Isothermal Process

For a constant temperature process involving an ideal gas, pressure can be expressed in terms of the volume:

The result of an isothermal heat engine process leading to expansion from V_i to V_f gives the work expression below.

Isothermal Process

Isothermal Process

For an ideal gas consisting of n = moles of gas, an isothermal process which involves expansion from Vi = m3 to Vf = m3 at temperature T = K

The work done in expanding the gas is

= J = x10^ J

Applying the ideal gas law in the form shows that for this process

= kPa = x10^ Pa

= kPa = x10^ Pa

The temperature for the work calculation must be in Kelvins, so it must be converted from the other temperature scales.

T = K = °C = °F