Open, closed, isolated systems

[Nick_Graessle_2A]

Hello

How can we tell if a system is open, closed, or isolated or will it be given?

[Andrew Dinh 2L]

Usually, telling these three systems apart involves looking at the flow of matter and energy between the system and surroundings. Does matter and energy move between the system and surroundings? Then it's an open system (ie. boiling water in a kettle with no lid). Is it just energy flowing between the system and surroundings? Then it's closed (i.e. boiling water in a kettle with a lid). If neither matter or energy can move between the two, then it's isolated (i.e. a bomb calorimeter). In terms of problems, I don't think it's too important to distinguish between the two, since generally most problems that we'll do (in calorimetry and thermochemistry) will be closed systems.

[Ellie Garcia 2L]

Hi Nick,

Like Andrew said, but I'll just summerize: An open system is one that can exchange both matter and energy with its surroundings. A closed system is one that can exchange energy but not matter with its surroundings. An isolated system is one that can neither exchange matter nor energy with its surroundings.

[Lizze Cardoso 2I]

An open system can exchange matter and energy with its surroundings. A closed system can exchange energy with its surroundings only. An isolated system cannot exchange matter or energy with its surroundings, so NOTHING is exchanged.

[Mehreen_Suzaan_1A]

Also, I believe something was said in the lecture about isolated systems being on the rarer side and that open systems would be looked at the most.

[Saahithi Kari]

We will most likely have to identify whether a system is open, closed, or isolated. However, as long as you can identify the characteristics of the system and match it to each type of system, it is relatively straightforward. An open system is any system that can exchange matter and energy with its surroundings. A closed system can only exchange energy with its surroundings, and an isolated system can transfer neither.

[GPena1F]

Hello

How can we tell if a system is open, closed, or isolated or will it be given?

An open system can exchange both matter and energy with the surroundings while a closed system can only exchange energy with the surroundings. An isolated system cannot exchange energy or matter with its surroundings.