Doing Work on a Gas Flashcards

All 4 cards in this deck

Why does the air in a bicycle pump get warm when you push the plunger in?

Work is done compressing the air, which increases the kinetic energy of its particles, so its temperature rises.

What does 'doing work on a gas' mean?

Transferring energy to the gas by a force compressing it, increasing the gas's internal (thermal) energy store.

True or false? The air in a bicycle pump warms up only because of friction between the plunger and the barrel.

False. Even with no friction, the work done in compressing the air raises its temperature.

True or false? A gas can get hotter without any heating, if work is done on it.

True. Compressing a gas transfers energy to its particles, raising its temperature.