# Problem: A 100-W lightbulb is placed in a cylinder equipped with a moveable piston. The lightbulb is turned on for 0.020 hour, and the assembly expands from an initial volume of 0.90 L to a final volume of 5.88 L against an external pressure of 1.0 atm.Calculate w.

###### FREE Expert Solution

We’re being asked to calculate the work for a system that has an initial volume of 0.90 L to a final volume of 5.88 L against an external pressure of 1.0 atm.

Recall that work (w) is given by:

$\overline{){\mathbf{w}}{\mathbf{=}}{\mathbf{-}}{\mathbf{P\Delta V}}}$

where:

P = pressure (in atm)

ΔV = Vfinal – Vinitial = change in volume (in L)

###### Problem Details

A 100-W lightbulb is placed in a cylinder equipped with a moveable piston. The lightbulb is turned on for 0.020 hour, and the assembly expands from an initial volume of 0.90 L to a final volume of 5.88 L against an external pressure of 1.0 atm.

Calculate w.

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