Pressure-Volume Work in Thermodynamics

In thermodynamics, pressure-volume work (or PV work) refers to the work done by or on a thermodynamic system as it expands or contracts. The formula for calculating this work is W = -PΔV, where W is the work done, P represents the pressure exerted on or by the system, and ΔV represents the change in volume of the system. The negative sign indicates that work is done by the system when it expands (positive volume change) and done on the system when it contracts (negative volume change). It assumes that the pressure remains constant during the volume change, which is called isobaric process. The work is measured in joules when pressure is in pascals and volume change is in cubic meters.