What kind of thermodynamic process is an air bubble rising to the water surface?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the thermodynamic processes involved when an air bubble rises to the surface of water. It is established that if the bubble rises infinitely slowly, the process is isothermal due to sufficient time for heat exchange with the surrounding water. Conversely, in practical scenarios where bubbles rise quickly, the process is adiabatic as there is insufficient time for heat exchange, leading to a temperature change within the bubble. This distinction is critical for understanding the behavior of gases in fluid dynamics.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of thermodynamic processes, specifically isothermal and adiabatic expansions.
  • Basic knowledge of gas laws, particularly the Ideal Gas Law.
  • Familiarity with fluid dynamics concepts related to buoyancy and gas behavior in liquids.
  • Knowledge of heat transfer mechanisms in fluids.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the principles of isothermal and adiabatic processes in thermodynamics.
  • Study the Ideal Gas Law and its applications in real-world scenarios.
  • Explore fluid dynamics, focusing on buoyancy and the behavior of gases in liquids.
  • Investigate heat transfer methods in fluids, including conduction, convection, and radiation.
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in physics, engineering, and environmental science who are interested in thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and the behavior of gases in various conditions.

corona7w
Messages
11
Reaction score
0
There is an air bubble at a certain depth and it's rising to the surface of the water. The temperature of the water is constant at a certain temperature. The gas inside the bubble expands as it rises to the surface, but does the temperature of the air stay the same? Is this an isothermal or adiabatic expansion?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I just heard from someone that is the bubble rises infinitely slow to the surface, then the process is isothermal because it doesn't have time to exchange heat with the water surrounding it in order to maintain a constant temperature within. But in real life, in which air bubbles rise quickly to the water surface, the process would be adiabatic. Can this argument be established?
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
3K
Replies
5
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K