Note: [[Work]] is [[Path Dependence|path dependent]]. The work done by a [[Piston Cylinder|piston cylinder]] can be described in terms of [[Differential|differentials]]: $dW=Fdy=PAdy=PdV$ We can therefore express total work as: $W=\int_{V_1}^{V_2}PdV$ Likewise, we can express specific work, $w=\dfrac{W}{m}$​, as: $w=\int_{\nu_1}^{\nu_2}Pd\nu$ Using the [[Area|area]] interpretation of [[Integral|integrals]] we can see that specific work can be thought of as the area underneath a [[Tv and Pv Diagrams|P-v curve]].