
Use kinetic theory to explain why, when the piston is moved so that the gas expands, this causes a decrease in the temperature of the gas.
The gas expands so that its volume increases to
at a pressure of
and a temperature of
, as shown in the figure below:
The average translational kinetic energy
of a molecule of an ideal gas is given by

where
is the Boltzmann constant and
is the thermodynamic temperature. Calculate the increase in internal energy
of the gas during the expansion.
The work done by the gas during the expansion is
. Use your answer in (i) to explain whether thermal energy is transferred to or from the gas during the expansion.