Isothermal Expansion of an Ideal Gas – Introduction, Example and FAQ
The isothermal expansion of an ideal gas is a process in which the temperature of the gas remains constant. This can be done by either heating the gas or cooling the gas until it reaches thermal equilibrium with its surroundings. In either case, the temperature of the gas will remain constant.
The isothermal expansion of an ideal gas can be described using the ideal gas law. The ideal gas law states that the pressure, volume, and temperature of an ideal gas are all related to each other. In an isothermal expansion, the temperature will remain constant, so the only thing that will change is the volume of the gas.
The expansion of an ideal gas can be shown using a graph of pressure vs. volume. In an isothermal expansion, the curve will be a straight line. This is because the temperature of the gas remains constant, so the pressure and volume are directly proportional to each other.
