First law of thermodynamics

■ ∆Q = Heat supplied to the system by the surroundings

■ ∆W = Work done by the system on the surroundings
■ ∆U = Change in internal energy of the system
■ The general principle of conservation of energy then implies that ∆Q = ∆U + ∆W i.e. the
energy (∆Q) supplied to the system goes in partly to increase the internal energy of the
system (∆U) and the rest in work on the environment (∆W).
■ The above equation is known as the first Law of thermodynamics. This shows that if a
system is taken through a process in which ∆U = 0 (for example, isothermal expansion of an
ideal gas),then heat supplied to the system is used up entirely by the system in doing work
on the environment
 ILLUSTRATION
1. Piston moving up
■ Gas does work in moving Piston against Pressure
P is Pressure X Area X Distance
■ ∆W=PAdx P
∆W=P∆V
GAS dx
■ From I Law, ∆Q=∆U+∆W

∆Q
ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITY 1.
Balloon

Plastic bottle
Beaker
T2 T1

Hotwater

■ When a plastic bottle is placed in vessel containing hot Water, the balloon attached
to the bottle expands. Here heat is supplied to the System (The Bottle) and there is
Increase in the internal energy of the system and work is done by the system. Hence
∆Q is +ve, ∆U is +ve and ∆W also is positive. From Conservation of Energy,
∆Q=∆U+∆W.
ACTIVITY 2: Hot Al Tin
Beaker

Cold Water
THERMODYNAMIC STATE VARIABLES AND EQUATION OF STATE

(a)

(b)

■ In Fig (a) The partition in the box is suddenly removed leading to free expansion of the gas. In Fig
(b) A mixture of gases undergoing an explosive chemical reaction. In both situations, the gas is not
in equilibrium and cannot be described by state variables.
■ . The connection between the state variables is called the equation of state. For example, for an
ideal gas, the equation of state is the ideal gas relation
P V =µ R T
Thermodynamic Process

When the system undergoes change from

initial thermodynamic state to final state due
change in values of temperature, pressure,
volume etc, the system is said to have
undergone thermodynamic process.
THERMODYNAMIC PROCESSES :

There are a number of different thermodynamic

processes such as

• Isothermal
• Adiabatic
• Isochoric
• Isobaric
• cyclic
ISOTHERMAL PROCESS
An isothermal process is one in which the temperature of the
system remains constant.
PROPERTIES :
1) It is a slow process.
2) In the case of a gaseous system Boyles law is obeyed ,
as the temperature remains constant,

ΔU = 0 so: ΔQ = ΔW

All the energy absorbed by a system is converted into output

work.
Calculation of work in isothermal process :

The work involved when a gas changes from

state A to state B is given by :
Examples for isothermal
process :
1.Slow compression and slow expansion of
a ideal gas.
2.Melting of ice
3.Boiling of water
ADIABATIC PROCESS :
An adiabatic process is one in which there is no exchange of
thermal energy ΔQ between a system and its surroundings.
PROPERTIES :
1) It is a quick process
2) The system is a insulated one.
3)The mathematical equation for an ideal gas undergoing a
reversible adiabatic process is :
4) As there is no exchange of heat
ΔQ = 0 so: ΔW = -ΔU

In an adiabatic process the work is done at the expense of

internal energy. Work done by the gas results in decrease in its
internal energy and hence its temperature for an ideal gas.
Work Done in Adiabatic Processes :

Adiabatic Process  dQ = 0
From first law of thermodynamics
dQ  dW  dU
 0  dW  dU
The work involved when a gas changes
from state 1 to state 2 is given
P1V1  P2 V2
P1V1  P2 V2  W 
W  1
 1
.
 1 1 
PV  Const. TV  Const. P T  Const.
Examples for adiabatic process:

1) Propogation of sound through air

2) Bursting of a tyre.
3) In a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher, with the gas comes out at
high pressure and cools as it expands at atmospheric
pressure.
Isochoric process
In an isochoric process, V is constant. No work is done on or by the gas. The heat
absorbed by the gas goes entirely to change its internal energy and its temperature.
The change in temperature for a given amount of heat is determined by the specific
heat of the gas at constant volume.
Isobaric process
In an isobaric process, P is fixed. Work done by the gas is
W = P (V2 – V1) = µ R (T2 – T1)
Since temperature changes, so does internal energy. The heat absorbed goes partly
to increase internal energy and partly to do work. The change in temperature for a
given amount of heat is determined by the specific heat of the gas at constant
pressure.
Cyclic process
In a cyclic process, the system returns to its initial state. Since internal energy is a
state variable, ΔU = 0 for a cyclic process. Hence the total heat absorbed equals
the work done by the system.