Thermodynamics Study Guide

System

Collection of matter within a clearly defined boundary across which no matter passes

environment

everything outside a system that can affect or be affected by the system's behavior

Isovolumetric process

A thermodynamic process that takes place at a constant volume so that no work is done on it by the system

Isothermal process

a thermodynamic process that takes place at constant temperature and in which the internal energy of a system remains unchanged

Adiabatic process

A thermodynamic process during which work is done on or by the system but no energy is transferred to or from the system as heat

first law of thermodynamics

The principle that takes into account a system's internal energy as well as work and heat

Cyclic process

A thermodynamic process in which a system returns to the same conditions under which it started

Entropy

A measure of the disorder of a system

Second law of thermodynamics

States that no cyclic process that converts heat entirely into work is possible

As long as a substance does not change phase, it's internal energy will ________ as it's temperature rises

Decrease

In thermodynamics, work is the product of the change in the ______ of a gas and the ________ applied on or by a gas

Volume, pressure

In a closed system, mechanical energy ________ ________

Remains constant

The greater the difference between the amount of energy transferred as heat into and out of the engine, the ____ work the engine can do.

More

What type of engine can operate at 100% efficiency

No real engine can operate at 100% efficiency

What is "heat death"?

When all processes will cease because entropy in the universe has reached its max value and there will be no energy for work, only heat

What happens to the energy available for work when entropy increases

Energy available for work would decrease

If you break a mirror, what happens to the entropy of this system?

The entropy increase, because there is more disorder with more pieces

If the entropy of part of a system decreases, what must happen to the entropy of the total system?

It must increase by a larger amount to keep the entropy positive

If the entropy of a system decreases, what must happen to the entropy of the environment surrounding the system?

It must have a greater increase

Will the amount of energy in the universe ever change? Why or why not?

No, because of the Law of Conservation of Energy

What is the trend of entropy of the universe?

It is always increasing in the universe

What are the equations for efficiency

(Qh-Qc)/Qh, Wnet/Qh

What can be said about the relationship between experimental and calculated efficiencies

Experimental efficiencies can never reach the calculated efficiencies

If a system's properties at the end of the process are identical to the system's properties before the process took place, what is the change in internal energy?

There would be no change in internal energy