Adiabatic process

Thermodynamic process with no heat exchange

For other uses, see Adiabatic process (disambiguation).

Adiabatic process is a thermodynamic process in which there is no heat transfer into or out of the system. In an adiabatic process, energy is transferred only as work. This process is an important concept in thermodynamics and is used to describe the behavior of gases and other systems.

Overview

In an adiabatic process, the system is perfectly insulated from its surroundings, meaning that no heat is exchanged. The term "adiabatic" comes from the Greek word "adiabatos," meaning impassable, referring to the fact that heat cannot pass into or out of the system.

An adiabatic process can be either reversible or irreversible. In a reversible adiabatic process, the system changes state in such a way that it can be returned to its original state without any net change in the system and surroundings. In contrast, an irreversible adiabatic process involves changes that cannot be undone without leaving a net change.

Mathematical description

For an ideal gas undergoing an adiabatic process, the relationship between pressure, volume, and temperature can be described by the following equations:

• \( PV^\gamma = \text{constant} \)
• \( TV^{\gamma-1} = \text{constant} \)

where \( P \) is the pressure, \( V \) is the volume, \( T \) is the temperature, and \( \gamma \) is the heat capacity ratio (\( C_p/C_v \)).

Applications

Adiabatic processes are commonly found in various natural and industrial processes. Some examples include:

• Adiabatic cooling: This occurs when a gas expands and cools without exchanging heat with its environment. It is a principle used in refrigeration and air conditioning.
• Adiabatic heating: This occurs when a gas is compressed and its temperature increases without heat exchange. This principle is used in diesel engines.
• Atmospheric processes: Adiabatic processes are important in meteorology, where rising air expands and cools adiabatically, leading to cloud formation.

Entropy and adiabatic processes

In an adiabatic process, the change in entropy depends on whether the process is reversible or irreversible. For a reversible adiabatic process, the entropy remains constant, which is why it is also called an isentropic process. In an irreversible adiabatic process, the entropy of the system increases.

Entropy and temperature changes in an adiabatic process.

Related pages

• Isothermal process
• Isobaric process
• Isochoric process
• Thermodynamic cycle

Gallery

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  Diagram of an adiabatic process.

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  Adiabatic process diagram

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  Entropy and temperature relationship