Thermodynamics Flashcards
What is the first law of thermodynamics?
Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.
True or False: The second law of thermodynamics states that entropy in a closed system can decrease over time.
False
Fill in the blank: The measure of disorder or randomness in a system is known as ______.
entropy
What is the definition of thermodynamic equilibrium?
A state where macroscopic properties are uniform and do not change over time.
What does the term ‘enthalpy’ refer to?
The total heat content of a system, equal to the internal energy plus the product of pressure and volume.
Which law of thermodynamics introduces the concept of absolute zero?
The third law of thermodynamics.
True or False: A heat engine converts thermal energy into mechanical work.
True
What is the Carnot efficiency formula?
Efficiency = 1 - (T_c / T_h), where T_c is the cold reservoir temperature and T_h is the hot reservoir temperature.
What is a reversible process in thermodynamics?
A process that can be reversed without leaving any change in the system and surroundings.
Fill in the blank: The unit of temperature in the SI system is ______.
Kelvin
What is a state function?
A property whose value does not depend on the path taken to reach that specific value.
What is the significance of the Gibbs free energy?
It determines the spontaneity of a process at constant temperature and pressure.
True or False: In an isothermal process, the temperature remains constant.
True
What is the difference between an open system and a closed system?
An open system can exchange both matter and energy with its surroundings, while a closed system can exchange only energy.
What is specific heat capacity?
The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius.
Fill in the blank: The process of heat transfer through direct contact is known as ______.
conduction
What is the equation for calculating work done by a gas during expansion?
W = PΔV, where P is pressure and ΔV is the change in volume.
What does the term ‘adiabatic process’ mean?
A process in which no heat is transferred to or from the system.
What is the latent heat of vaporization?
The amount of heat required to convert a unit mass of a substance from liquid to vapor at constant temperature.
True or False: Heat always flows from a colder object to a hotter object.
False
What is the difference between an ideal gas and a real gas?
An ideal gas follows the ideal gas law perfectly, while a real gas exhibits interactions between molecules and does not always follow the law.
Fill in the blank: The heat required to change a solid into a liquid at its melting point is called ______.
latent heat of fusion
What is the Clausius-Clapeyron equation used for?
It describes the relationship between pressure and temperature during phase changes.
What is the definition of a thermodynamic cycle?
A series of processes that return a system to its initial state.
