Question

3) 15-Q13, that's chap 1 5 conceptual question #13 Which cyclical process represented by the two closed loops, ABCFA and ABDEA, on the PV diagram in the figure below produces the greatest net work? Is that process also the one with the smallest work input required to return it to point A? Explain your responses. The two cyclical processes shown on this PV diagram start with and return the system to the conditions at point A, but they follow different paths and produce different amounts of work

Answer 1

As we know that work done is equal to area under curve hence loop ABDEA will produce more net work than ABCFA

Isothermal work done is smallest work done between two point hence ABCFA is not the smallest loop to do smallest work done