CHAPTER 12 - THERMODYNAMICS

COMPETENCY BASED QUESTIONS

Q1. State two limitations of the first law of thermodynamics.

Ans. (a) It does not indicate the direction of heat transfer.
(b) It does not indicate as to why the whole of heat energy cannot be converted in to
work continuously.
Q2. Is melting of ice an adiabatic or isothermal process?
Ans. The melting of ice is an isothermal process.
Q3. Why a gas is cooled when expanded?
Ans. Decrease in internal energy.
Q4. Define isochoric process.
Ans. A thermodynamic process which occurs at a constant volume is called isochoric process.
Q5. Zeroth law of thermodynamics tells about
(A) Energy (B) Pressure (C) Temperature (D) Volume

Ans. Temperature.
Q6. The decrease in internal energy of a system is -------------------------------------.
Ans. Negative.
Q7. Which is not the intense variable
(A) Pressure (B) Temperature (C) Density (D) Volume

Ans. (D) Volume

CASE BASED QUESTIONS

Q8. As per first law of thermodynamics, the change in internal energy of a system is equal to the heat absorbed
by the system minus the work done by the system. If the initial and final states of pressure, volume and
temperature differ by finite amount
Then, ∆U = ∆Q – ∆W.
By applying First law of thermodynamics one can derive equation of state for Isothermal and
adiabatic process as well as the work done during an isothermal and adiabatic Process.

1. First law of thermodynamics is most general form of

(A) law of conservation of energy.

(B) law of conservation of charge.
(C) law of conservation of linear momentum.

(D) none of the above

2. Work done by a gas in non-cyclic process is given as the area enclosed by the P → V curve and the
(A) Pressure axis. (B) Volume axis.

(C) Temperature axis. (D) None of the above

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 3. A process in which no heat is transferred to or from the system though other variables (P, V, T) may
change, is called

(A) An isothermal process (B) An adiabatic process

(C) An isobaric process (D) An isochoric process
4. Which of the following statement is correct?

(A) In isothermal process, the total heat absorbed is equal to the work done
by the system.
(B) In adiabatic process, the total heat absorbed is equal to the work done
by the system.
(C) In isobaric process, the total heat absorbed is equal to the work done
by the system.
(D) In cyclic process, the total heat absorbed is equal to the work done by the system.
5. The slopes of the isothermal and adiabatic curves are related as

(A) isothermal curve slope = adiabatic curve slope

(B) isothermal curve slope = adiabatic curve slope
(C) adiabatic curve slope = isothermal curve slope

(D) adiabatic curve slope = ½ isothermal curve slope

Ans. -
1 2 3 4 5
A B B D C

OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS

Q9. The process forbidden by the first law of thermodynamics is

(A). Conversion of work into heat

(B). Conversion of heat into work
(C). Change in internal energy

(D). None of the above

Ans. D
Q10.Which one of the following statements is true about a gas undergoing isothermal change?
(A). The temperature of the gas is constant
(B). The pressure of the gas remains constant
(C). The volume of the gas remains constant

(D). The gas is completely insulated from the surrounding’s

Ans. A

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Q11.Heat capacity of a substance is infinite. It means ___________
(A). Heat is given out (B) Heat is taken out
(C) No change in temperature (D) Heat is first given out and then taken out
Ans. C
Q12.Which law forbids the complete conversion of heat energy into mechanical work?
Ans. Second law of thermodynamics

Q13.Which one a solid, a liquid or a gas of the same mass and at the same temperature has the greatest
internal energy?
Ans . Gas has greatest internal energy and solid has least internal energy.
SHORT ANSWER/ LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q14. What happens to the change in internal energy of a gas during (i) isothermal expansion and (ii) adiabatic
expansion?
Ans . (i) In isothermal expansion temperature remains constant. Therefore, internal energy
which is a function of temperature will remain constant.
(ii) for adiabatic change dQ = 0
and hence first law of thermodynamics becomes 0 = dU + dW,
dW = - dU During expansion work is done by the gas i.e. dW is positive.
Hence dU must be negative.
Thus in an adiabatic expansion the internal energy of the system will decrease.
Q15. A thermodynamic system is taken from an original state to an intermediate state by the linear process
shown in Fig. Its volume is then reduced to the original value from E to F by an isobaric process. Calculate
the total work done by the gas from D to E to F.

Ans. Total work done by the gas from D to E to F.

W = WDE + WEF
= Area of trapezium DEGHD – Area of rectangle EFHG
= Area of triangle DEF
= ½ DE x FE = (600 – 300) Nm–2 × (5.0 – 2.0) m3
= 450 J

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