Suppose that the gas in a circular cylinder of cross-sectional area A is beeing compressed by a piston. If p is the pressure of the gas in pounds per square inch and V is the volume in cubic inches, show that the work done in compressing the gas from state [tex](p_1 , v_1)[/tex] to state [tex](p_2 , v_2)[/tex] is given by the equation
Work = [tex]\int_{(p_1 , v_1)}^{(p_2 , v_2)} p dV[/tex]
(Hint: in the coordinates suggested in the figure here, dV = A dx. The force against the piston is pA.)
