(a) According to the first law of thermodynamics, what quantity is conserved? (b) What is meant by the internal energy of a system? (c) By what means can the internal energy of a closed system increase?

Short Answer

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(a) The conserved quantity in the first law of thermodynamics is the total energy (including internal energy, work, and heat) of the isolated system. (b) Internal energy is the energy associated with the microscopic components of a system, including kinetic and potential energy of atoms and molecules. (c) The internal energy of a closed system can increase through heat transfer from an external source or by mechanical work done on the system.

Step by step solution

01

a) Determine the conserved quantity in the first law of thermodynamics

According to the first law of thermodynamics, energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but it can only be transformed from one form to another in an isolated system. This law is essentially the conservation of energy principle. So, the conserved quantity in the first law of thermodynamics is the total energy (including internal energy, work done by or on the system, and heat exchanged) of the isolated system.
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b) Define internal energy of a system

The internal energy of a system refers to the energy that is associated with the microscopic components (atoms and molecules) of the system. It includes the kinetic energy (energy of motion) and potential energy (energy due to position or interactions) of the microscopic particles in the system. Internal energy is often considered as a function of temperature, volume, and the number of particles within the system.
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c) Identify the means to increase the internal energy of a closed system

There are two main means by which the internal energy of a closed system can increase: 1. Heat transfer: If heat is transferred to the system from an external source, the internal energy of the system will increase as the temperature of the system rises. 2. Work done on the system: If mechanical work is done on the system, the internal energy of the system increases as the energy is transferred to internal energy. For example, if a piston compresses a gas inside a cylinder, the temperature of the gas increases, and so does the internal energy of the system.

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