How to use the polytropic compression work calculator
Find the final pressure and work done when a gas is compressed along a polytropic process. Enter initial pressure, initial volume, final volume, polytropic index in the fields above; the final pressure, work done on gas are computed instantly and plotted on the chart so you can see how the answer changes.
Common searches this calculator answers include “polytropic process work”, “gas compression energy”, “PV^n = constant”, “calculate polytropic compression work”, “find final pressure”.
Formula
Variables
- P1 — Initial pressure (kPa)
- V1 — Initial volume (m³)
- V2 — Final volume (m³)
- n — Polytropic index
Worked example
With initial pressure = 100 kPa, initial volume = 1 m³, final volume = 0.25 m³, polytropic index = 1.3, the calculator gives final pressure ≈ 606.2866 kPa; work done on gas ≈ 171.9055 kJ.
Frequently asked questions
What is the polytropic compression work calculator used for?
Find the final pressure and work done when a gas is compressed along a polytropic process. It helps with questions such as “polytropic process work”, “gas compression energy”, “PV^n = constant”.
What is the formula for the polytropic compression work calculation?
Final pressure (kPa) = P1 × (V1 / V2)^n. Work done on gas (kJ) = ([Final pressure] × V2-P1 × V1) / (n-1). Here P1 is initial pressure (kPa), V1 is initial volume (m³), V2 is final volume (m³), n is polytropic index.
What inputs do I need for the polytropic compression work calculator?
You need initial pressure in kPa, initial volume in m³, final volume in m³, polytropic index. Each field is pre-filled with a typical example so you can see how the result responds as you edit the numbers.
How do I use the polytropic compression work calculator?
Type values into the input fields. Results and the chart update instantly. Use Reset to restore the example values, Copy results to paste them elsewhere, or Share to copy a link that preserves your inputs.
Is the polytropic compression work result exact?
Calculations use standard formulas and double-precision arithmetic, then display about seven significant figures. Real-world measurements carry uncertainty, so treat results as estimates unless your inputs are exact.