## reversible and irreversible processes

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

marcus lin 1E
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:28 am

### reversible and irreversible processes

what's the difference between reversible and irreversible?

Lauryn Shinno 2H
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:24 am

### Re: reversible and irreversible processes

Reversible is expansion/compression against constant pressure, while irreversible is infinitesimal steps of expansion/compression against a changing pressure. Therefore, irreversible does more work, but does not actually happen in real life.

Samantha Ito 2E
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:29 am

### Re: reversible and irreversible processes

Also, the work calculated for an irreversible expansion is w= -P∆V while the work calculated for a reversible expansion is w= -nRTln(V2/V1).

GavinAleshire1L
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:21 am

### Re: reversible and irreversible processes

Reversible processes are always in equilibrium with their surroundings and are ideal whereas irreversible processes can occur naturally and involve a definite change in entropy.

Kyither Min 2K
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Joined: Wed Oct 03, 2018 12:15 am

### Re: reversible and irreversible processes

Reversible processes are when the external pressure is changing in minuscule amounts and so the volume is changing in minuscule amounts and can return to it's original state. Irreversible processes have a constant external pressure so once it expands/compresses to a certain volume, it will stay the volume.

Jonathan Pai 2I
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:27 am

### Re: reversible and irreversible processes

reversible happens slowly so heat change can occur and the pressure usually is changing

KimGiang2F
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:19 am

### Re: reversible and irreversible processes

A reversible process is one that can be reversed by an infinitely small change in a variable. Whereas an irreversible process is an expansion against an external pressure that differs by a finite amount from the pressure of a system. To get a better understanding of a reversible change, you can consider the reversible, isothermal expansion of an ideal gas. The pressure of the gas falls as it expands; so to achieve reversible expansion, the external pressure must be reduced in step with the change in volume so that at every stage, the external pressure is the same as the pressure of the gas. As you can see, the change in volume is the infinitely small change required for the expansion to be reversible. The work that a system can do is greatest in a reversible process.

Keerthana Sivathasan 2E
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Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:22 am

### Re: reversible and irreversible processes

Reversible processes can make sense backwards and forwards, but for irreversible processes, there is a clear backward and forward. For example, throwing a chalk up in the air is reversible, but breaking an egg is irreversible.

Leila_4G
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Joined: Sat Sep 14, 2019 12:17 am

### Re: reversible and irreversible processes

What are the implications of these reversible/irreversible processes?

805291863
Posts: 100
Joined: Sat Sep 14, 2019 12:16 am

### Re: reversible and irreversible processes

How will we be able to differentiate between a reversible and irreversible process on an exam? Will it be given to us or do we have to make the distinction?

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