Open vs closed

[Joanna Huang]

What's the difference between open, closed, and isolated systems? And would it matter what kind of system it is when solving problems?

[Madilyn Schindler 3E]

An open system allows anything (matter or energy) to pass in and out, a closed system only allows energy to pass in and out, and an isolated system doesn't allow anything to pass in or out. I think it could matter but it varies from problem to problem. Any question that requires you to know what can or can't be removed or added to the system would require consideration of the type of system. Hope that helps!

[Kushaal Madadi 2F]

An open system allows for the transfer of energy and matter. A closed system only allows for the transfer of energy. An isolated system allows for the transfer of neither energy nor matter (Hence, the change in the internal energy of an isolated system is always O). Yes, the type of system plays an important role in how you would solve a problem because different types of systems allow for different types of energy transfer. For example, an open system allows for loss of energy through not only work and heat, but also the loss of matter.

[Kylie Joe 2A]

I like to think of them in succession! Open systems let everything in (energy and physical matter). They are at the top of the chain, you can think of this as a typical drinking cup. Then there are closed systems that is sort of like your typical water bottle. The water is contained inside and cant get out, and likewise no physical matter can get in. But, if you let it sit in the sun or in your car too long, the contents will heat up because energy is still transferrable in this type of system. An isolated system doesn't even allow this, and is completely impermeable and exists essentially in its own little universe.

[Jack Kettering 3D]

Open system is where substance can be added, closes is where no substance can be added but energy can be added, isolated system is when nothing can be added

[Elizabeth Kaplan 3I]

An open system is when both matter and energy can be exchanged with the surroundings, a closed system is when only energy (heat) can be exchanged with the surroundings, and an isolated system is when neither matter nor energy can be exchanged with the surroundings. Remember that the change in internal energy of an isolated system is 0!

[Kayle Lim 2C]

All the systems differ with system/surrounding interaction. As stated in the examples above, each system is different in terms of what is able to enter, exit, and interact. Interactions involve exchanges with matter and energy. Understanding which system is being used in a problem is really important because of how different they operate from one another. With the different conditions each system holds, the solution of the problem differs so it is essential to know what system you are working with.

[Brianna Chen 3F]

Here are some definitions that clarify the difference between the different systems:
Open system: Matter and energy can be exchanged with the surroundings (ex. beaker of water)
Closed system: Has a fixed amount of matter but energy can exchange with the surroundings (ex. sealed beaker of water)
Isolated system: Nothing exchanges with the surroundings (ex. combustion of glucose in a bomb calorimeter which is heavily insulated with a fixed volume)

To answer your second question, yes it does matter which kind of system it is when solving problems because it would determine your values of q and w (for example, an isolated system would have q=0 and w=0), so I would make sure that you know which system you are looking at!

[Stephanie Zhang 2K]

Hi! an open system is where both matter and energy can move in or out. A closed system is where only energy can move in/out, but matter can't move. An isolated system is where both energy and matter can't move in/out of the system.

I would consider whether you need to keep in mind the movement of matter/energy for the types of problems. An isolated system, for example, always contains the same energy over time, since both energy and matter aren't changing in it, and so ∆U=0. Hope this helped!

[Kaitlyn Hernandez 3I]

Here are some examples of open, closed, and isolated systems!

Open: plants conducting photosynthesis, boiling water without a lid, an open cup of coffee
Closed: boiling water with a lid, a closed water bottle, a cup of coffee with a lid
Isolated: the universe, a thermos flask

Something to remember about isolated systems is the first law of thermodynamics: The internal energy of an isolated system is constant :)

[Malakai Espinosa 3E]

Open system can exchange matter and energy, closed system can only exchange energy, and isolated system cannot exchange matter nor energy.

[Simi Kapila_3E]

In an open system, matter and energy can be exchanged. In a closed system only energy can be exchanged (usually through heat). In an isolated system nothing can be exchanged.

[Talia Dini - 3I]

In an open system, matter and energy can be exchanged. In a closed system, only energy can be exchanged. In an isolated, both matter and energy can not be exchanged.

[Bella Bursulaya 3G]

Open systems allow for both matter and energy to be exchanged with the surroundings. An example of this is a coffee. The cup allows for the exchange of heat with surroundings, and you can add in milk or sugar.

A closed system allows only for energy to be exchanged. Think about that coffee cup and then put a lid on it.

The difference between the two does matter for problems. If you have a closed system, you can't add any energy in terms of matter, only energy.

[Mary Gallo 1G]

Open systems allow both energy and matter to be exchanged with the surroundings. Closed systems only allow energy transfer with the surroundings. Finally, isolated systems do not allow anything to be transferred with the surroundings.

[Sean Wang 1F]

Open systems allow both matter and energy to exchange with surroundings. Closed systems allow only energy to exchange with surroundings. Isolated systems allow neither matter nor energy to exchange with surroundings.

[Kiara Phillips 3L]

Open systems - Things can move in and out and temperature can change and volume can change
Closed- Things cannot move in and out but temp can change and therefore volume etc
Isolated-(The most boring) Nothing is moving anywhere

[Teti Omilana 1G]

Open system - matter & energy can exchange w/ surroundings
Closed system - energy can exchange w/ surroundings
Isolated system - nothing exchanges w/ surroundings

[Zainab Jamali 1H]

The difference is in what can be transferred in/out of a system:
Open systems: mass and energy
Closed systems: energy
Isolated systems: neither

It definitely is important to know what kind of system it is, especially for thermochemistry problems!

[Rose_Malki_3G]

Open system means it can exchange matter and energy with its surroundings. Closed system means only energy can be exchanged with surroundings. And an isolated system means that neither matter nor energy can be exchanged.

[SamanthaTolentino 3D]

An open system means that matter and energy can be exchanged with its surroundings. A closed system means that only energy can be exchanged with its surroundings. An isolated system means that neither, matter nor energy can be exchanged with its surroundings.

[kentbui1d]

An open system allows for the exchange of materials between the surrounding and the system, for example adding liquid. A closed system cannot exchange materials, but heat can still be transferred, for example a frozen water bottle would still thaw even if you don't open the bottle. For an isolated system both exchange of materials and heat is not possible.

[OmarArafat_2K]

In an open system, both energy and matter can exchange with surroundings
In a closed system, energy can exchange with surroundings
In an isolated system, nothing is able to exchange with surroundings

[Anthony_Sandoval_1D]

An open system allows for the exchange of energy and matter with the surroundings. A closed system allows for energy to be exchanged with the surroundings whereas an isolated system does not allow for any exchange to occur with the surroundings.

[Hasan Mirza 3F]

Open systems allow for transfers in matter and energy, closed allow for transfers in only energy, and isolated doesn't allow transfers in either.

[Jeremy Wei 2C]

An open system allows for the exchange of matter and energy between the system and the surroundings, a closed system only allows for the exchange of energy, while an isolated system does not allow for either to occur. Hope this helps!

[Susan Chamling 1F]

For an open system energy and matter can be exchanged with the surroundings, while for a closed system only energy can be exchanged with the surroundings. Lastly, an isolated system is not able to exchanged anything with the surroundings.

[Hannah Alltucker 3L]

Open system - matter and energy (heat, etc.) can be exchanged with a systems surroundings
Closed system - matter cannot be exchanged, but energy is able to be exchanged with a systems surroundings
Isolated system - both matter and energy cannot be exchanged with a systems surroundings

[605823283]

A closed system is completely closed from its environment (no material flow)
An open system is that has flows of info, energy, and/or matter between its system and its environment.

[Arshaun Faraji 2H]

open allows anything to pass through
closed only allows energy through
isolated does not allow anything through

[Samantha Toscano 2C]

An open system allows for energy and matter to pass through
A closed system allows energy to pass, but not matter
And an isolated system does not let either pass

[Reece Fong 2k]

Energy and matter can be transferred. In a closed system, only energy can be transferred, while in an isolated system, none of them can be transferred between the system and its surroundings