First Law of

Thermodynamics
Ivan Jesther John Mark B
S Senes Naag
1 Calculate the change in internal energy of a system if 400J of heat energy is
added to it and the system performs 100 J of work.

ΔU = Q - W
Q = +400J, W = +100J
ΔV = (400J) - (+100J)
ΔV = 300 J
2 Determine the change in the internal energy of a system
if 700J of heat energy were removed from it and if 400J of
work was done on the system.

ΔU = Q - W
Q = -700 J, W= -400J
ΔU = (-700J) - (400J)
ΔU = -300J
 1500J of heat energy was added to a gas. The gas expands at the constant

3 pressure of 45000 Pa from 0.02m^3 to 0.05m^3. (a) How much was

performed by the gas or on the gas? (b) Calculate the change in the internal
energy of the system

W = PΔV ΔU = Q - W
= 45,000 Pa [0.05 m^3 - 0.03m^3] = 1500J -
= 45,000Pa (0.02m^3)
ΔV =(1350J)
150J
W = 1350 J

1 Pa * m^3 = 1J
 2500J of heat energy was removed from a gas. The gas was

4 compressed at a constant pressure of 3.0 atm from 25L to 15L. (a)

How much work was performed by the gas or on the gas? (b)
Calculate the change in the internal energy of the system.
Q = -2500J ΔU = Q - W
W = ΔPV ΔU = -2500J - (-3039J)
W = 3atm (25L - 15L) ΔU = 539J
W = -3039J
 A gas contained in a cylinder fitted with a frictionless piston expands against a

5
constant external pressure of 1 atm from a volume of 5 litres to a volume of 10
litres. In doing so it absorbs 400 J of thermal energy from its surroundings.
Determine the change in internal energy of system.

W = ΔPV ΔU = Q - W
= 400J (10L - 5L) ΔU = 400 - 506.65 J
= 506.65J ΔU = -106.65 J
6 5000 J of heat are added to two moles of an ideal monatomic gas,
initially at a temperature of 500 K, while the gas performs 7500 J of
work. What is the final temperature of the gas?

ΔU = Q - W
= 5000J - 7500J
= -2500J
= (3/2) nRΔT = (3/2)(2)(8.31)ΔT
= -100K

Tf = 500K - 100K = 400K

Thank you!