Moderate

The internal energy of the system increases__________?

Correct answer: B. in adiabatic compression

  • A. in adiabatic expansion
  • B. in adiabatic compression
  • C. in isothermal expansion
  • D. in isothermal compression

Explanation

In an adiabatic process, heat transfer is zero, so the work done on the gas changes its internal energy. During compression, work is done on the system, causing its internal energy to increase. The likely choice is a, because students may think that all adiabatic processes have no energy change, although adiabatic means no heat exchange, not no work.

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About First Law of Thermodynamics

The first law relates heat supplied, work done and the change in internal energy through energy conservation. Problems use sign conventions and apply the law to isothermal, adiabatic, isobaric and isochoric processes. Internal energy is a state function, while heat and work depend on the path followed.

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