I'm still kind of confused on what Internal Energy (U) exactly means. So, could someone explain it?
Thank you!
Meaning of Internal Energy
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Re: Meaning of Internal Energy
I believe internal energy (U) is the total energy (potential and kinetic) of a closed system. It is considered a "state function" in that you can calculate the change in a system's internal energy (∆U) by subtracting Ufinal - Uinitial, in other words, the final internal energy state minus the initial internal energy state. Knowing this, we can calculate quantities involving heat, work, and energy changes in the system. Hope this helps!
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Re: Meaning of Internal Energy
Internal energy is a property that refers to the total potential and kinetic energies of the atoms and molecules in a particular system. Internal energy is subject to change through heating/cooling and the process of work.
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Re: Meaning of Internal Energy
Hi,
As previously said, internal energy is the total kinetic and potential energy in the system. For our purposes, this is just heat and work combined (q+w).
As previously said, internal energy is the total kinetic and potential energy in the system. For our purposes, this is just heat and work combined (q+w).
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Re: Meaning of Internal Energy
Internal energy refers to all the energy (kinetic and potential) that is within a closed system. It refers to all the particles and atoms that are within that system.
Re: Meaning of Internal Energy
Hi! Internal energy refers to the total kinetic and potential energies within a closed system. So far in class, this just regards heat and work combined (U=q+w).
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Re: Meaning of Internal Energy
Internal energy occurs in closed system which can be changed by heating or cooling and compression or expansion. This is why the given equation for the change in internal energy is (q+w) because q is heat and w is the work done through changing the volume of the system.
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Re: Meaning of Internal Energy
The internal energy of a system is thought of as the sum or all the kinetic energies of the individual gas molecule. Keep in mind the relationships of U with other variables. For example, as the Temperature decreases, so does delta U and so on and so forth.
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