Relativistic Thermodynamics: A Modern 4-Vector Approach
Figure 4
(a) A gas contained in a cylinder is compressed under the action of two pistons, L, with electric charge fixed to it, and R, with electric charge fixed to it. On piston L, a force is exerted by the electric field and a force slightly smaller by the gas. On piston R a force is exerted by the electric field, an a force by the gas. (b) Thus the gas is compressed under the action of force applied to a displacement and a force applied to a displacement . Both forces and are applied simultaneously during time interval . Every piston acts as an intermediate agent between the work reservoir (electric field and battery to which the capacitor is connected) and the thermodynamics system (the gas).