An experimental physicist uses a precision pneumatic cell to study the behavior of a trace sample of nitrogen gas.
When the piston is retracted slowly, increasing the volume of the cell, the temperature of the nitrogen gas is kept constant by a thermal reservoir. Explain in terms of particles why the pressure of the gas decreases.
If the piston is instead pushed in extremely rapidly, work is done on the gas and its temperature increases. How does this increase in temperature affect the gas particles inside the cell?
During a rapid compression, the work done on the gas transfers 0.0624 J of energy directly to its internal energy. The mass of the nitrogen gas sample is 2.50 × 10-7 kg. The specific heat capacity of the nitrogen gas is 1.04 kJ kg−1 ∘C−11.04\text{ kJ kg}^{-1}\text{ }^\circ\text{C}^{-1}1.04 kJ kg−1 ∘C−1. Calculate the temperature change of the gas.