An ideal monoatomic gas undergoes a polytropic thermodynamic process during which its molar heat capacity remains constant at two times the universal gas constant. What happens to the temperature of the gas when it expands to a larger volume during this process?

💡 Solution & Explanation

For a polytropic process with molar heat capacity greater than the constant volume heat capacity, expansion requires heat absorption that exceeds the work done, leading to a rise in internal energy and temperature. In standard isothermal expansion of an ideal gas, temperature remains constant. Molar heat capacity characterizes the thermal inertia of a gas system.