[01] Thermodynamics

Question 1

What is thermodynamics?

Answer 1

A branch of physics that deals with the relationships between heat and other forms of energy.

Question 2

How many laws of thermodynamics exist?

Answer 2

Four: the zeroth, first, second, and third law.

Question 3

What does the zeroth law of thermodynamics state?

Answer 3

If two systems are each in thermal equilibrium with a third system, they are in thermal equilibrium with each other.

Question 4

What does the first law of thermodynamics state?

Answer 4

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed or transferred (principle of conservation of energy).

Question 5

What does the second law of thermodynamics state?

Answer 5

The entropy of an isolated system always increases or remains the same; it never decreases (spontaneous processes tend to increase total entropy).

Question 6

What does the third law of thermodynamics state?

Answer 6

The entropy of a system approaches a constant value as the temperature approaches absolute zero.

Question 7

What is entropy in thermodynamics?

Answer 7

A measure of the disorder or randomness of a system.

Question 8

What is the role of a heat engine in thermodynamics?

Answer 8

To convert heat energy into mechanical work.

Question 9

What is the Carnot cycle?

Answer 9

The most efficient theoretical cycle for heat engines, developed by Sadi Carnot.

Question 10

What is the concept of absolute zero in thermodynamics?

Answer 10

The lowest possible temperature where nothing could be colder and no heat energy remains in a substance.

Question 11

What is a thermodynamic system?

Answer 11

A portion of the universe that is being studied for its thermodynamic properties.

Question 12

What are the types of thermodynamic systems?

Answer 12

• Isolated
• Closed
• Open

Question 13

What is the difference between endothermic and exothermic processes?

Answer 13

Endothermic processes absorb heat from the surroundings, while exothermic processes release heat to the surroundings.

Question 14

What is a state function in thermodynamics?

Answer 14

A property that depends only on the current state of the system, not the path taken to get there (examples include energy, enthalpy, and entropy).

Question 15

What is the principle of equipartition of energy?

Answer 15

The idea that, in a system at thermal equilibrium, each degree of freedom will have the same amount of energy.

Question 16

What is thermal equilibrium?

Answer 16

The condition in which two objects in physical contact with each other exchange no heat energy.

Question 17

What is a thermodynamic process?

Answer 17

The evolution of certain properties (such as temperature, volume, or pressure) of a thermodynamic system.

Question 18

What is the difference between an adiabatic and an isothermal process?

Answer 18

An adiabatic process occurs without exchange of heat with the surroundings, while an isothermal process occurs at a constant temperature.

Question 19

What is a heat pump in thermodynamics?

Answer 19

A device that transfers heat energy from a source of heat to a destination called a “heat sink”.