An ideal monatomic gas initially at state 1 has pressure P1=2.0atm and volume V1=1.0L. The gas is taken quasistatically to state 2 with pressure P2=1.0atm and volume V2=2.0L along a smooth path on which the product PV remains constant at all times. Treat 1.0atm=1.01×105Pa.
(a) Determine the type of thermodynamic process represented by the path from state 1 to state 2. Justify your choice based on the information given.
(b) Calculate the work done ON the gas during this expansion. Express your answer in joules.
(c) Using the first law of thermodynamics, determine both the magnitude and sign of the energy transferred by heating, Q, for the process.