isothermal system [ENDORSED]

isochoric/isometric: $\Delta V = 0$
isothermal: $\Delta T = 0$
isobaric: $\Delta P = 0$

Tiffany Cao 1D
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isothermal system

How is heat being transferred in an isothermal system?

Chem_Mod
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Re: isothermal system  [ENDORSED]

Isothermal means temperature does not change and therefore internal energy does not change.
Delta U = q + w
0 = q + w

Therefore -q = w
Or w = -q

Heat is transferred (not zero) but the same amount of energy is lost as work. Therefore internal energy is constant.

If needed, ask during my Monday review session.

Anne 2L
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:05 am

Re: isothermal system

Chem_Mod wrote:Isothermal means temperature does not change and therefore internal energy does not change.
Delta U = q + w
0 = q + w

Therefore -q = w
Or w = -q

Heat is transferred (not zero) but the same amount of energy is lost as work. Therefore internal energy is constant.

If needed, ask during my Monday review session.

Can you clarify how no change in temperature means no change in internal energy? Sorry, I'm kind of confused because I don't see temperature in the change in internal energy equation

Lily Guo 1D
Posts: 64
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:03 am

Re: isothermal system

There is no temperature change because energy from heat transfer is equal to energy from work. If they weren't equal, then the energy change from the heat transfer would result in a temperature change. However, because they are equal, the energy supplied by work makes up for that would-be temperature change and makes it isothermal instead.