The First Law of

Thermodynamics
Summary
Kinds of thermodynamic processes
1. Adiabatic process is defined as a process with no heat transfer into
or out of the system; Q=0. From the first law we find that the
adiabatic process,
𝑈2 − 𝑈1 = ∆𝑈 = −𝑊
𝛾 𝛾
𝑃1 𝑉1 = 𝑃2 𝑉2 (constant Temperature)
𝛾−1 𝛾−1
𝑃1 𝑇1 = 𝑃2 𝑇2 (constant volume)
2. Isochoric process is a constant volume process. When the volume
of a thermodynamic system is constant, the system does no work
on its surrounding hence W=0 and
𝑈2 − 𝑈1 = ∆𝑈 = 𝑄
𝑃1 𝑃2
=
𝑇1 𝑇2
Kinds of thermodynamic processes
3. Isobaric process is a constant pressure process.
From 𝑑𝑊 = 𝑝𝑑𝑉
𝑉2
𝑊= 𝑉1
𝑝𝑑𝑉 ∆𝑈 = 𝑛𝐶𝑣 (𝑇2 − 𝑇1 )
𝑊 = 𝑝(𝑉2 − 𝑉1 ) 𝑄 = 𝑛𝐶𝑝 (𝑇2 − 𝑇1 )
4. Isothermal process is a constant temperature process
𝑉2 𝑛𝑅𝑇
From 𝑊= 𝑉1
𝑝𝑑𝑉 and 𝑝=
𝑉
𝑉2 𝑑𝑉 𝑉2
𝑊= 𝑛𝑅𝑇 𝑉 = 𝑛𝑅𝑇𝑙𝑛
1 𝑉 𝑉1
𝑃1 𝑉1 = 𝑃2 𝑉2
1. A series of thermodynamic processes is shown in the pV-diagram
below. In process ab, 150 J of heat are added to the system, and in
process bd, 600 J of heat are added. Find (a) the internal energy
change in process ab; (b) the internal energy change in process abd;
and (c) the total heat added in process acd.
P, Pa
b d
8.0 x 104

3.0 x 104
a c
V, m3
2.0 x 10-3 5.0 x 10-3
2. A cylinder with piston contains 0.250 mol of oxygen at 2.40 x 105 Pa and 355
K. The oxygen may be treated as an ideal gas. The gas first expands at constant
pressure to twice to its original volume. It is then compressed isothermally
back to its original volume, and finally it is cooled at constant volume to its
original pressure. (a) Show the series of processes on a pV-diagram. (b)
Compute the temperature during the isothermal compression. (c) Compute
the maximum pressure. (d) Compute the work done by the gas, heat added to
it, and its internal-energy change during the initial expansion. (f) Compute the
internal-energy change during the isothermal compression.