Pulling or pushing a piston slowly - Heat transferred?

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When a piston is pushed or pulled slowly, heat transfer occurs due to the interaction with the surrounding environment. In this scenario, the process is not purely adiabatic, and heat can either be absorbed or released depending on whether the piston is pushed or pulled. The complexity arises from the heat capacity and conduction properties of the cylinder, which influence the temperature changes during the process. Most physics literature typically addresses only the extremes of adiabatic and isothermal processes, leaving the intermediate cases less explored. Understanding these nuances is essential for accurate thermodynamic analysis.
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i know if you push or pull a piston QUICKLY, no heat is transferred (adiabatic process).


But what if you push or pull a piston slowly? would heat be transferred in or out if you Push slowly? Pull slowly?

why?


thanks. i can't find the answer in my book, they just talk about the Quickly case.
 
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1. May i assume you are asking about the typical piston with compression rings? 2. would you like non Physics degree guys input on this matter or prefer to keep it in the degreed realm. answer will not offend, just do not want to waste your time
 
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MechRocket said:
i know if you push or pull a piston QUICKLY, no heat is transferred (adiabatic process).


But what if you push or pull a piston slowly? would heat be transferred in or out if you Push slowly? Pull slowly?

why?


thanks. i can't find the answer in my book, they just talk about the Quickly case.

Most psysics books will only talk about 2 cases, the adiabatic case, where you move the piston so quickly that no heat is transferred or the isothermal case where the piston is moved so slowly that the temperature stays equal to the surroundings.

Anything in between means the heat capacity and heat conduction of the cylinder becomes important and the problem will become much more complicated.
 
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