What is the ideal gas law?

The ideal gas law PV = nRT relates pressure (P), volume (V), temperature (T), and amount of gas (n moles) through the universal gas constant R = 8.314 J/(mol·K). It accurately describes the behaviour of gases at low pressure and high temperature.

What is the difference between isothermal and adiabatic processes?

In an isothermal process, temperature is constant and heat flows between the gas and its surroundings. In an adiabatic process, no heat is exchanged (Q=0), so the temperature changes: the gas cools during expansion and heats during compression. Adiabatic curves are steeper than isothermal curves on a PV diagram.

What does the area under a PV curve represent?

The area under the curve on a PV diagram equals the work done by the gas during the process. For expansion (V increases), work is positive (gas does work on surroundings). For compression (V decreases), work is negative (surroundings do work on gas). Isochoric processes have zero work since volume doesn't change.

Ideal Gas Law / PV Diagram

Explore thermodynamic processes on a PV diagram. Switch between isothermal, adiabatic, isobaric, and isochoric processes to see how pressure, volume, and temperature change.

Gas Parameters

Process

Presets

Moles = 1.0

1.0

Temperature = 300 K

300

Pressure = 100 kPa

100

Volume Ratio = 2.0

2.0

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Molecular animation Work area shading

Properties

Process	Isothermal
n	1.0 mol
T (init)	300 K
T (final)	--
P (init)	100 kPa
P (final)	--
V (init)	--
V (final)	--
Work	--
Heat	--
ΔU	--

The Physics Behind It

Thermodynamic Formulas

Ideal gas law: PV = nRT
Isothermal work: W = nRT ln(V₂/V₁)
Adiabatic: PVᵔ = const
First law: ΔU = Q − W

Key Concepts

Isothermal: constant temperature; gas exchanges heat with a reservoir
Adiabatic: no heat exchange; temperature changes during compression/expansion
Isobaric: constant pressure; volume and temperature change proportionally
Isochoric: constant volume; pressure and temperature change proportionally

Ideal Gas Law / PV Diagram

Gas Parameters

Properties

The Physics Behind It

Thermodynamic Formulas

Key Concepts

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