What does happen if I push a piston in an adiabatic cylinder containing an ideal gas?
According to Ideal Gas Equation:
$$PV=nRT$$
Is it possible to predict what's going to happen? Will Temperature and Pressure increase while Volume decreases?
Do we have to control one Variable in all processes?
Best Answer
During an adiabatic process, $pV^\gamma=const$, where $\gamma$ is the adiabatic factor. Using the ideal gas equation, you can calculate the changes in all three parameters (namely $p,V,$ and $T$). Your prediction is correct, for most gasses pressure and temperature will increase, and volume will decrease, which can be seen in a $(p,V)$ diagram from the flow of an adiabatic line.