Free expansion, as the name implies refers to the unrestrained expansion of a gas. Let as take an insulated tank having two compartments separated by a partition, say A and B. Let us assume that compartment A is filled with gas while B is having vacuum. If now the partition is removed and gas allowed to occupy the whole volume of tank, then the gas expands to fill the complete volume space. New pressure of gas will be lesser as compared to initial pressure of gas occupying them compartment A. A close look at the expansion process shows that the expansion due to removal of partition is unresisted expansion due to gas expanding in vacuum. This is also known as free expansion. The reverse of free expansion is impossible and so it is an irreversible process
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