# Thermal Physics -- Change of energy from compression

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## Homework Statement

This is not a homework problem but rather a passage from my textbook that I don't understand. I don't think I quite understand the concept of reversible processes. Here is the passage from my book:

"Consider a system in the quantum state s of energy Es. We assume Es to be a function of the volume of the system. The volume is decreased slowly by application of an external force. Let the volume change take place sufficiently slowly that the system remains in the same quantum state s throughout the compression...The mechanical work done on the system by the pressure in a contraction appears as the change of energy of the system."

My question is:
How is it possible that the system can remain in the same quantum state throughout the compression if the energy is changing? (I believe the system under consideration is in contact with a thermal reservoir)

## Answers and Replies

Homework Helper
Gold Member
As an example, think of a particle in the ground state in a one dimensional box of length L. Imagine slowly decreasing L such that the particle is always in the ground state corresponding to the current value of L. Does the energy of the particle change?