I think there's no practical problem with the Adiabatic Gas Law
apparatus. To be adiabatic (no heat transfer) the process cannot be
too slow because in the real world no thermal insulation is perfect
(especially since there's not just conduction but also radiation to
worry about). On the other hand, to be reversible (isentropic) the
process cannot be too rapid - compared to typical molecular speeds of
the gas. Well these two limits leave a big working range - any quick
motion of the piston by a human arm is bound to be just fine. Carl
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Carl E Mungan, Assoc Prof of Physics 410-293-6680 (O) -3729 (F)
Naval Academy Stop 9c, 572C Holloway Rd, Annapolis MD 21402-1363 mailto:mungan@usna.eduhttp://usna.edu/Users/physics/mungan/