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Interactive practice

Ideal Gas & Thermodynamic Processes Explorer

Read state changes, p-V graphs, and process comparisons without mixing up constants, work, and internal-energy ideas.

  • A Level
  • Explore first
  • 14 min
BetaReviewed Jul 2026Back to A Level Core

Focus: Ask what is constant first, then decide whether the cleaner route is a named gas-law shortcut or the full ideal-gas relation.

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Interactive stageLive model

Study lensUse pV = nRT and special gas-law relationships only after checking what stays constant.14 min activity

Try this

Ask what is constant first, then decide whether the cleaner route is a named gas-law shortcut or the full ideal-gas relation.

Learn to

  • Use pV = nRT and special gas-law relationships only after checking what stays constant.
  • Read p-V processes and connect work done by a gas to area under the graph.
  • Apply ΔU = Q − W consistently, including zero-work and zero-change cases.

Exam transfer

  • Thermal modeling
  • Process interpretation

Governing idea

An ideal gas obeys pV = nRT and ΔU = Q − W, where W is work done by the gas. Isothermal, isochoric, isobaric, and adiabatic paths impose different constraints.

Model boundary

States are equilibrium states of a calorically perfect diatomic ideal gas with γ = 1.40 and constant heat capacities. Processes are quasi-static; phase changes and intermolecular forces are omitted.

Avoid this trap

Isothermal means ΔU = 0 for an ideal gas, not Q = 0. Adiabatic means Q = 0, while an isochoric process has W = 0. At zero state change, W, ΔU, and Q are all zero.

Practice run

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Gas setup

Main mode
1.00 mol
320 K
10.0 L
State change controls
Shift factor
1.30×

Thermo checkpoint

What to notice:

Prediction target:

    What you'll train

    Learning objectives

    • Use pV = nRT and special gas-law relationships only after checking what stays constant.
    • Read p-V processes and connect work done by a gas to area under the graph.
    • Apply ΔU = Q − W consistently, including zero-work and zero-change cases.
    • Compare isothermal, isobaric, isochoric, and adiabatic paths without assuming identical final states.

    Use this when

    • A Level thermal physics revision
    • Students who can quote gas laws but still misread p-V processes and first-law style descriptions
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