10.

4 ISOTHERMAL & ADIABATIC

CHANGES
 
Learning outcomes:
Students should be able to:
Describe the isothermal process of a gas
Use the equation pV= constant for isothermal changes
Describe the adiabatic process of a gas
Use the equation and for adiabatic changes
Illustrate thermodynamic processes with p-V graphs
Derive and use the expression for work done in the thermodynamic
processes
REVERSIBLE CHANGE

Reversible process @ reversible change in the state of a

gas is a process where the gas is taken from an
equilibrium state to another equilibrium state through a
number of small steps, where the gas is always in
equilibrium at every intermediate step.
 REVERSIBLE
CHANGE
The process can be reversed to its original state via the same small steps, but in
the opposite direction.

A change in the state of a gas becomes irreversible if the gas is not in

equilibrium at any of the intermediate steps.
An irreversible change cannot be represented by a smooth curve
 ISOTHERMAL CHANGE
Isothermal process – gas undergoes a change of state at
constant temperature.
Reversible isothermal change – the change in the condition of
a gas which takes place at constant temperature where the gas
is taken from its initial equilibrium state to a final equilibrium
state via small steps. The gas remains in equilibrium through
all the steps. The change can be reversed via the same small
steps but in the opposite direction.
 ISOTHERMAL
CHANGE
 
Since its internal energy depends only on its temperature, the internal energy
is constant as the temperature remains constant.
In other words, there is no change in the internal energy

In order for temperature to remain constant, the pressure and volume of the
gas must vary according to Boyle’s law.
 ISOTHERMAL CHANGE
Figure shows three different curves
corresponding to the temperatures
T1, T2 and T3 for the p-V graph.
Each of these curve is called an
isotherm.
The curves move further away from
the origin as the temperature
increase
 ISOTHERMAL CHANGE
Figure shows an isothermal compression.
During compression, work is done on the
gas.
As a result, the internal energy and
temperature will increase
However, in order to maintain
a constant temperature and
hence internal energy, heat
escapes into its surroundings.
In other words, the work done
on the gas is transformed into
heat which escapes into its
surroundings during
isothermal compression.
ISOTHERMAL CHANGE
Figure shows an isothermal expansion.
However, in order to
maintain a constant
temperature and hence
internal energy, heat
enters the gas from its
surroundings.
During expansion, work is done by the
gas.
As a result, the internal energy and
temperature will decrease
WORK DONE DURING ISOTHERMAL CHANGE
WORK DONE BY IDEAL GAS
A fixed mass of ideal gas obeys the equation pV=nRT
In an isothermal change, T is constant. Hence,

(Boyle’s law)
WORK DONE BY IDEAL GAS

Work done by the gas on the surroundings is given by

but

(1)
 WORK DONE BY IDEAL GAS

Since piVi=pfVf=nRT, equation (1) can be written as

(2)

As Vf>Vi, W>0. using the first law of thermodynamics,

Since W>0, work done by the gas on the surroundings is positive

Heat enters the gas
WORK DONE ON IDEAL GAS
◦ Work done on the gas on the surroundings is given by

but

(1)

(2) (3)
WORK DONE ON IDEAL GAS
As Vf<Vi, W<0. using the first law of thermodynamics,

Since W<0, work done by the gas on the surroundings is

negative
Heat is escape from the gas
 Exercise 1
Two moles of an ideal gas undergo isothermal expansion at
temperature T. its final volume is three times its initial volume.
Derive an expression for the work done by the gas on the
surroundings.

Ans: 2RT ln 3
 Exercise 2
Five moles of oxygen gas is compressed from 200 cm3 to 25 cm3 at a
constant temperature of 450 K. what is the work done on the gas?

Ans: 38 880 J