Physics II / The First Law and Heat Capacities
Practice question · Multiple choice

Why is CPC_P always larger than CVC_V for a gas?

Hints
  1. Ask where the heat goes in each case.
  2. At constant volume all of it raises the internal energy; at constant pressure some is spent pushing the surroundings back.
Show the answer

D. At constant pressure the gas also does expansion work, so more heat is needed

Why

At constant volume every joule raises UU. At constant pressure the gas also expands and does work on its surroundings, so it needs extra heat for the same temperature rise, precisely nRnR per degree for an ideal gas.

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