Piston-cylinder apparatus

A piston-cylinder apparatus is a common piece of laboratory equipment used in thermodynamics and fluid mechanics to study the behavior of gases and liquids under various pressure and temperature conditions. The apparatus typically consists of a cylindrical chamber (the cylinder) in which a movable piston is housed. The piston can slide within the cylinder, creating a seal that allows for the compression or expansion of the working fluid (usually a gas or liquid) inside the cylinder.