Mattheo said:When an ideal gas expands in a piston during an isothermal process, does it necessarily absorbs heat from the surroundings in order to maintain its temperature? (Piston is not insulated).
IF yes,
When the same procedure is carried out in a perfectly insulated piston, then temperature drops doesn't it?
Thanks in advance
An isothermal process is a thermodynamic process in which the temperature of a system remains constant throughout the process. This means that the heat exchange between the system and its surroundings is balanced, resulting in no change in temperature.
A non-insulated piston allows for heat exchange between the system and its surroundings, which can cause the temperature of the system to change. This can result in the isothermal process becoming non-isothermal.
A non-insulated piston can help maintain a constant pressure in the system, as heat exchange with the surroundings can allow for expansion or contraction of the gas inside the piston. This can be useful in certain industrial processes where pressure needs to be controlled.
Yes, an isothermal process with a non-insulated piston can be reversible if the heat exchange with the surroundings is very slow, allowing for the system to maintain a constant temperature throughout the process. This is known as a quasi-static isothermal process.
The ideal gas law, which states that the pressure, volume, and temperature of a gas are related, can be used to calculate the change in volume or pressure in an isothermal process with a non-insulated piston. This allows for the prediction of the behavior of the gas as it expands or contracts due to heat exchange with the surroundings.