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Q.(a) What are isothermal and adiabatic process?

(2)
(b) Derive the expression for work done in an isothermal process. (2)
Kerala DhseKerala DHSE Plus One Board 2024Subjective· 4mImportance★★★★★
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Isothermal = constant T, PV = const. Adiabatic = no heat exchange, PVᵞ = const. The isothermal work done is derived by integrating P dV using the ideal gas law, giving W = nRT ln(V₂/V₁).

  1. Isothermal and adiabatic processes An isothermal process is a thermodynamic process in which the temperature of the system stays constant throughout (T = constant, ΔT = 0). Since the internal energy of an ideal gas depends only on temperature, ΔU = 0 for an isothermal process. It obeys Boyle's law form: PV = constant. A gas expanding or compressing very slowly in a container with highly conducting walls, in contact with a large heat reservoir, is a good real-world approximation. An adiabatic process is a thermodynamic process in which no heat is exchanged between the system and its surroundings (Q = 0). This happens either because the system is thermally insulated or the process occurs too fast for heat exchange to occur. From the first law, ΔU = -W (all work is done at the expense of internal energy, so temperature changes). It obeys PVᵞ = constant, where γ = Cp/Cv.
  2. Work done in an isothermal process Consider n moles of an ideal gas at constant temperature T, expanding quasi-statically from volume V₁ to V₂. At any instant, the ideal gas equation gives: PV = nRT ⟹ P = nRT/V Small work done in an infinitesimal expansion dV: dW = P dV = (nRT/V) dV …

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