12. One mole of nitrogen gas at 301K occupies a volume of 12.5L in the frictionless piston/cylinder arrangement. The mass of the piston may be assumed to be negligible. The cross-sectional area of the piston face is 300cm2, and the pressure of the external atmosphere is 100kPa. When a 600kg weight is placed on the piston, the piston lowers by 13.49cm. The process may be assumed to be isothermal, and nitrogen may be assumed to behave as an ideal gas. What is the minimum work required to carry out this compression? Ans. 1.20kJ