To find the work done by an ideal gas along the path ABCD on the given P−V diagram, we calculate the work done on each segment individually and then sum them up.
Segment AB : The work is given by wAB=P0×V0 , contributing P0V0 .
Segment BC : No volume change occurs along this path, resulting in zero work: wBC=0 .
Segment CD : The gas compresses, performing negative work: wCD=−(2P0×2V0)=−4P0V0 .
Adding the work done in each segment:
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Thus, the total work done by the gas along the path ABCD is −3P0V0 .