First Law of Thermodynamics; Irreversible and Reversible Processes

• Eric A. Gislason ^[1] ; Norman C. Craig ^[2]
  1. [1] University of Illinois at Chicago

     University of Illinois at Chicago

     City of Chicago, Estados Unidos

     
  2. [2] Oberlin College

     Oberlin College

     City of Oberlin, Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 79, Nº 2, 2002, pág. 193
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • The experimental basis for the first law of thermodynamics and related operational definitions are reviewed. An alternative, adiabatic-work formulation of the first law is evaluated. New mathematical expressions for irreversible work in isothermal and adiabatic expansions and compressions of an ideal gas are presented. The work for these irreversible processes is compared graphically with the reversible limit. For the adiabatic case some numerical explorations are also done. An operational definition for reversible processes in purely first-law terms is presented and applied.