Consider a well-insulated horizontal rigid cylinder that is divided into two compartments by a piston that is free to move but does not allow either gas to leak into the other side. Initially, one side of the piston contains 1 m3 of N2 gas at 500 kPa and 80°C while the other side contains 1 m3 of He gas at 500 kPa and 25°C. Now thermal equilibrium is established in the cylinder as a result of heat transfer through the piston. Using constant specific heats at room temperature, determine the wasted work potential during this process. What would your answer be if the piston were not free to move? Take T0 = 25°C.

Consider a well-insulated horizontal rigid cylinder that is divided into two compartments by a piston that is free to move but does not allow either gas to leak into the other side. Initially, one side of the piston contains 1 m3 of N2 gas at 500 kPa and 80°C while the other side contains 1 m3 of He gas at 500 kPa and 25°C. Now thermal equilibrium is established in the cylinder as a result of heat transfer through the piston. Using constant specific heats at room temperature, determine the wasted work potential during this process. What would your answer be if the piston were not free to move? Take T0 = 25°C.