Struggle to understand adiabatic process

In summary: According to the first law of thermodynamics, the change in internal energy is equal to the heat added to the system minus the work done by the system. This means that in an adiabatic process, the change in internal energy is equal to the negative work done. The change in internal energy can also be expressed as 3/2kT, where k is the Boltzmann constant and T is the temperature. In an adiabatic process, work is done on the system, causing an increase in temperature even without any heat being added. This is possible because work done on a system increases the kinetic
  • #1
John Pang
26
4
I find really confused about the adiabatic process. According to my textbook, adiabatic process is a process in which no heat is allowed to flow into or out of a system.
According to the first law of thermodynamics, change in internal energy=heat added to system- work done by system,so change in Q is equal to -W in an adiabatic process. And change in U=3/2kT.So, if there is work done on a system, the temperature of a system will change even if there is no heat added to the system. This is exactly the part that comfuses me. Why an object can change its temperature without heat adding into it? And work done is also associated with heat. Without heat addition, how is work done possible?
 
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  • #2
And does this imply that an object may have its temperature unchanged even though there is heat lost from it?
 
  • #3
If you have a gas in a cylinder with a piston, and you move the piston to compress the gas, the face of the piston is exerting an unbalanced force on the gas molecules near the piston face, and is thus doing work on them. So their kinetic energy is increasing. This kinetic energy increase is then transmitted by collisions to the other molecules comprising the gas. So the energy per molecule is increased. This means that the temperature of the gas is higher. This happens even if no heat is added or removed from the gas. And, yes, this does imply that a gas can have its temperature unchanged even it there is no heat transfer to or from the gas.

Chet
 
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1. What is an adiabatic process?

An adiabatic process is a thermodynamic process in which there is no transfer of heat or mass between a system and its surroundings. This means that the system is insulated, and no energy is lost or gained from the surroundings during the process.

2. Why is it important to understand adiabatic processes?

Understanding adiabatic processes is important because they occur in many natural and industrial systems, such as weather patterns, chemical reactions, and engines. By understanding how these processes work, we can better predict and control their outcomes.

3. How is an adiabatic process different from an isothermal process?

An adiabatic process does not allow for any heat exchange, while an isothermal process maintains a constant temperature by allowing for heat exchange. Additionally, an adiabatic process is typically faster and more efficient than an isothermal process.

4. What are some real-life examples of adiabatic processes?

Some common examples of adiabatic processes include the compression or expansion of gases, such as in a car engine or refrigerator, and the changes in temperature and pressure as air rises and falls in the Earth's atmosphere.

5. What is the formula for calculating work in an adiabatic process?

The formula for calculating work in an adiabatic process is: W = (P2V2 - P1V1) / (γ - 1), where W is work, P is pressure, V is volume, and γ is the heat capacity ratio of the gas. This formula is derived from the first law of thermodynamics, which states that the change in internal energy of a system is equal to the heat added to the system minus the work done by the system.

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