Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
First Law of Thermodynamics
The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. In the context of a gas expanding in a cylinder, the internal energy change (ΔE) of the system is equal to the heat added to the system (q) minus the work done by the system (w) on the surroundings, expressed as ΔE = q - w.
Recommended video:
First Law of Thermodynamics
Enthalpy (H)
Enthalpy is a thermodynamic quantity that represents the total heat content of a system at constant pressure. It is defined as H = E + PV, where E is the internal energy, P is the pressure, and V is the volume. In processes occurring at constant pressure, the change in enthalpy (ΔH) can be directly related to the heat exchanged with the surroundings.
Recommended video:
Work Done by a Gas
In thermodynamics, the work done by a gas during expansion is calculated as the product of pressure and the change in volume (w = PΔV). When a gas expands against a constant external pressure, it does work on the surroundings, which must be accounted for when calculating changes in internal energy and enthalpy.
Recommended video:
Work Function Calculation Example