Question

A cylinder with a moving piston expands from an initial volume of 0.250 L against an external pressure of 1.00 atm . The expansion does 277 J of work on the surroundings. What is the final volume of the cylinder?

Answer 1

Work of expansion , W = P*dV

Where P = external pressure = 1.00 atm

           dV = change in volume = final volume - initial volume

               = V - 0.250 L

Work on surroundings , W = 277 J *(1 L.atm/101.33 J) = 2.734 L.atm

Plug the values we get 2.734 L.atm = 1.00 atm * ( V - 0.250 ) L

                                 (V - 0.250) L =2.734 L

                                                V = 2.734 + 0.250 L

                                                   = 2.984 L

Therefore the final volume of the cylinder is 2.984 L