Is work done in isothermal processes greater than work done in isobaric processes?

Question

One of my friends was discussing today about the work done by ideal gases in three different processes. They are isothermal, isobaric and adiabatic. We googled to learn about the differences between work done in isothermal and adiabatic processes. Some links we read told us work in isothermal processes is greater than work in adiabatic processes. Then we started to google to learn the differences between work done in isothermal processes and work in isobaric processes. One source says that, in the case of expansion of gases, work done in isothermal processes is greater than work done in isobaric processes. But, that source didn't give any explanation behind it. And, this source also didn't say what will happen if the gas is compressed. I had read my textbook carefully to get an idea about this topic, but unfortunately, I failed to come to a decision.

Now I am here to learn something from the experts of this site. It would be good if anyone could give me an explanation of my query. It would be helpful also if I got some links that are able to meet my need.

Thanks!

Answer 1

I'm guessing that you want to compare the work done in an expansion from volume $V_1$ to volume $V_2$ following an isothermal and an isobaric curve respectively.

First, let's look at the $PV$ plane:

(The curve b is an isotherm, which we know is an hyperbola in the $PV$ plane)

Since work is the area under the curve, it is clear that sometimes the work done in the isobaric process will be more and sometimes it will be less. For example, the work done in process a (isobaric) is clearly more than the work done in process b (isothermal), but the latter is more than the work done in process c (isobaric).

Now, some math: let's find the condition under which the isothermal work is less than the isobaric work.

The work performed during the expansion is

$$W=\int_{V_1}^{V_2} P dV$$

So, for an isobaric process:

$$W_{ib}=P \int_{V_1}^{V_2} dV = P (V_2-V_1)$$

While for an isothermal process:

$$W_{it}=\int_{V_1}^{V_2} P dV=nRT\int_{V_1}^{V_2} \frac{dV}{V} = nRT \log \left(\frac{V_2}{V_1}\right) $$

So, if we impose

$$W_{it}<W_{ib}$$

we obtain

$$nRT \log \left(\frac{V_2}{V_1}\right)<P (V_2-V_1)$$

that is to say

$$\frac{\log(V_2)-\log(V_1)}{V_2-V_1}<\frac P {nRT} $$

This equation can be solved numerically.

For example, if $P/nRT=1$ (in the correct units), we get the folowing inequality plot:

where $x=V_2$ and $y=V_1$ (you have of course to consider only the $x>0,y>0$ quadrant).

Answer 2

With the same starting state $(P_1, V_1, T_1)$, for gas expansion to volume $V_2$, the work done for an isobaric process ($P_2=P_1$) is as you wrote,

$$W=P_1(V_2-V_1)$$

For isothermal process, your result is good, but just need to move it further.

$$W=\int_1^2 PdV=P_1\int_1^2 \frac{P}{P_1}dV =P_1\int_1^2 \frac{V_1}{V}dV$$

We know $V \gt V_1$ because of expansion. So $$W=P_1\int_1^2 \frac{V_1}{V}dV \lt P_1\int_1^2 dV =P_1(V_2-V_1)$$

So $$W_{isothermal}<W_{isobaric}$$

Answer 3

Is work done in isothermal process greater than work done in isobaric process?

No, it isn't.

Counterexample:

Assume that we want to compare work done in isothermal and isobaric processes for expanding an ideal gas from same initial states ($P_1,V_1,T_1$) to final volume of $V_2=eV_1$ ($e$ is the Euler's number $\approx 2.7$). We have:

$$W_{\textrm {isothermal}}=P_1V_1\ln \frac{V_2}{V_1}=P_1V_1$$ And $$W_{\textrm{isobaric}}=P_1(V_2-V_1)=P_1V_1(e-1)$$ As $e-1\approx 1.7\gt 1$ then $W_{\textrm{isothermal}}\ngtr W_{\textrm{isobaric}} $