Conceptual polytropic question

[jdawg]

Homework Statement

Can someone give me an explanation of a polytropic process and maybe an example? I know it obeys pvⁿ=constant, but I can't seem to find a definition that makes this concept click in my head.
Would you consider isobaric, isothermal, and isochoric processes to be polytropic?

For isothermal I think n=1? so then pv=constant? and pv=T?

Thanks for any help!

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[Chestermiller]

A polytropic process is carried out reversibly, and both the temperature and the volume (or pressure) are varied simultaneously along the process path in such a way that pvⁿ is constant. For a constant pressure situation, n = 0, for an adiabatic situation, n = γ, and for an isothermal situation, n = 1.

Chet