Types of Systems

[Alice Chang 2H]

Will we be told the specific system/is it provided in the problem, or are we supposed to figure it out on our own?

Also, are there different equations/things to know per system?

[Rory Simpson 2F]

I think it will either be given or at least obvious if the system or any energy transfer described in the problem. Just remember that open systems allow matter and energy to transfer with surroundings, closed systems only allow energy, and isolated systems don't allow any transfer with surroundings. Also, there are certain means of adding energy or matter to systems depending on the type of system (heating or cooling systems, doing work on system such as with a piston, etc.)

[Cole Woulbroun 1J]

I'm not sure whether or not we will be told what type of system the system in a problem is, but the important things to remember are that open systems allow for a transfer of matter and energy, closed systems allow for a transfer of energy, and isolated systems allow for a transfer of neither. Another important thing to consider is the fact that energy can be transferred in multiple ways in the same type of system. For example, a closed system could transfer energy solely through heat by having a fixed volume or through both work and heat by having a piston as part of its structure.

[005324438]

For the most part you will have to figure out if it is a closed open or isolated system, but there are some easy examples to know, anything open is open, anything with a cap on it is closed, and anything insulated and capped is isolated. A bomb calorimeter is also isolated. Hope this helped!