Irreversible Process: Heat Transfer Dynamics

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    Irreversible Process
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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the concept of irreversible processes in thermodynamics, specifically addressing the relationship between energy conservation and entropy. It is established that an irreversible process is characterized by an increase in entropy, even if energy remains conserved within the system. The example of an isolated ideal gas is used to illustrate that while energy can be conserved through elastic collisions, the system still undergoes irreversible changes due to entropy increase. The participants clarify misconceptions regarding the conditions under which entropy may decrease in certain contexts.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of thermodynamic principles, particularly the laws of thermodynamics.
  • Familiarity with the concept of entropy and its implications in physical systems.
  • Knowledge of isolated systems and their characteristics in thermodynamics.
  • Basic principles of heat transfer and energy conservation.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the Second Law of Thermodynamics and its implications for irreversible processes.
  • Study examples of isolated systems and their behavior under various thermodynamic conditions.
  • Explore the concept of entropy in detail, including its calculation and significance in different processes.
  • Learn about reversible processes and how they differ fundamentally from irreversible processes.
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in physics, particularly those focused on thermodynamics, engineers working with heat transfer systems, and anyone interested in the principles governing energy and entropy in physical processes.

Pushoam
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Does this mean that any process in which energy goes away\comes into from the system to the surrounding as heat is irreversible and in any irreversible process, energy must go away
\come into from the system to the surrounding through heat?
 
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Conservation of energy is not the only law relevant. Think of entropy as well as energy.
 
anorlunda said:
Conservation of energy is not the only law relevant. Think of entropy as well as energy.
This reminds me the following:
Irreversible process is that process in which entropy of the system increases.
So, if I get a system whose energy remains conserved ( that is it doesn't get lost through heat) ,but entropy increases, then the system will be in irreversible process. For example, isolated ideal gas as ideal gas has only elastic collision, their energy remains conserved but the entropy increases, hence the ideal gas are in irreversible process. But, what is the name of this irreversible process?

So, in irreversible process, loss of energy through heat is not necessary. Right?
 
Pushoam said:
This reminds me the following:
Irreversible process is that process in which entropy of the system increases.
So, if I get a system whose energy remains conserved ( that is it doesn't get lost through heat) ,but entropy increases, then the system will be in irreversible process. For example, isolated ideal gas as ideal gas has only elastic collision, their energy remains conserved but the entropy increases, hence the ideal gas are in irreversible process. But, what is the name of this irreversible process?

So, in irreversible process, loss of energy through heat is not necessary. Right?
Your definition of an irreversible process in terms of an entropy increase is incorrect. The entropy of a system in an irreversible process can also decrease.
 
Chestermiller said:
The entropy of a system in an irreversible process can also decrease.
Entropy of an irreversible process always increases.
Entropy of a reversible process remains constant.
I have never heard that the entropy of a system in an irreversible process can also decrease.
Will you please give me an example?
 
Pushoam said:
Entropy of an irreversible process always increases.
Entropy of a reversible process remains constant.
I have never heard that the entropy of a system in an irreversible process can also decrease.
Will you please give me an example?
I remove heat from a hot body (my system) by contacting it with a colder reservoir.
 
Chestermiller said:
I remove heat from a hot body (my system) by contacting it with a colder reservoir.
But then the hotter body is not an isolated system.
The hotter body with the cold reservoir is the isolated system. And the entropy of this isolated system increases.
 
Pushoam said:
But then the hotter body is not an isolated system.
The hotter body with the cold reservoir is the isolated system. And the entropy of this isolated system increases.
This is correct. But, in you previous posts, you did not identify the system under consideration as being isolated. You just identified it as a "system."
 
Chestermiller said:
This is correct. But, in you previous posts, you did not identify the system under consideration as being isolated. You just identified it as a "system."
I am sorry for not being clear in the earlier post.
I assumed that by system it is meant an isolated system.

Thanks for pointing it out.
From next time I would be clear.
 

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