Explanation:
For an adiabatic process, \(P{V^\gamma } = \) constant,
Differentiating, we have
\(\gamma P{V^{\gamma - 1}} + \frac{{dP}}{{dV}}{V^\gamma } = 0\) or
\(\frac{{dP}}{{dV}} = - \frac{{\gamma P}}{V}\)
Thus, the slope of \(P - V\) curve is proportional to \(\gamma \). Now, for a diatomic gas, \(\gamma ( = 7/5)\) is less then that for a monoatomic gas for which \(\gamma = 5/3\). Therefore, the slope of the \(P - V\) curve is less for a diatomic gas than for a monoatomic gas. Hence curve 1 corresponds to diatomic gas ans curve 2 to monoatomic gas. Thus the correct choice is (2).