5.4 – Thermodynamic Terms

5.4.0 – Learning Objectives

By the end of this section you should be able to:

  1. Understand some of the jargon employed in thermodynamics

5.4.1 – Introduction

Thermodynamics has a lot of jargon to explain the phenomena that occur. This notebook will go over the term that you will encounter in many problems such as Isothermal, Adiabatic, Isochoric, as well as open and closed systems.

5.4.2 – Glossary

  • Isothermal: Constant temperature \(\Delta T = 0\). A process undergoing isothermal expansion is undergoing expansion at constant temperature
  • Adiabatic: No heat is added or removed from the system; \(Q = 0\). This can be described as perfectly insulated
  • Isochoric/Isovolumetric: Constant volume.
  • Isobaric: Constant Pressure.
  • Open system: A system in which mass/matter is not conserved.
  • Closed system: A system in which mass/matter is conserved.
  • Isolated system: A system in which matter/mass and energy are conserved. ‘
  • Specific property: A property that is divided by mass.

check yourself:

Is a homebrew an open/closed system?

Answer:

It depends. Ideally you want a closed system to allow for a good fermentation of the brew. To prevent the fermenter from blowing up an airlock is added which allows air to escape but not re-enter making it an open system.

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