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Question 18M.3.SL.TZ1.c.i

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Date May 2018 Marks available [Maximum mark: 2] Reference code 18M.3.SL.TZ1.c.i
Level SL Paper 3 Time zone TZ1
Command term Explain Question number c.i Adapted from N/A
c.i.
[Maximum mark: 2]
18M.3.SL.TZ1.c.i

The pressure–volume (pV) diagram shows a cycle ABCA of a heat engine. The working substance of the engine is 0.221 mol of ideal monatomic gas.

At A the temperature of the gas is 295 K and the pressure of the gas is 1.10 × 105 Pa. The process from A to B is adiabatic.

The process from B to C is replaced by an isothermal process in which the initial state is the same and the final volume is 5.00 × 10–3 m3.

Explain, without any calculation, why the pressure after this change would belower if the process was isothermal.

[2]

Markscheme

for isothermal process, PV = constant / ideal gas laws mentioned

since VC > VB, PC must be smaller than PB

[2 marks]

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