What is the most important general difference between a system in steady state and a system in equilibrium?

Short Answer

Expert verified

When a system is at equilibrium, there is no net heat transmission. The term "steady state" describes a (possibly) open system in which there may be heat transmission but no change in the system's state.

Step by step solution

01

Significance of the steady state and equilibrium

A chemical reaction is said to be in a steady state when the concentration of an intermediate remains constant, as opposed to equilibrium, where the rates of the forward and backward reactions are equal.

02

Determination of the difference between a system in steady state and a system in equilibrium

In contrast to steady state, which is the stage of a chemical reaction when an intermediate's concentration is constant, equilibrium is a condition in which the rates of the forward and backward reactions are equal.

In contrast to steady state, when just some components are maintained constant, equilibrium maintains the concentrations of all components at a constant level.

When a system is at equilibrium, there is no net heat transmission. The term "steady state" describes a (possibly) open system in which there may be heat transmission but no change in the system's state.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The circuit shown in Figure 18.107 consists of a single battery, whose emf is 1.8V, and three wires made of the same material but having different cross-sectional areas. Each thick wire has a cross-sectional area 1.4×10-6m2and is 25cmlong. The thin wire has a cross-sectional area 5.9×10-6m2and is 6.1cmlong. In this metal, the electron mobility is 5×10-4(ms)(Vm), and there are 4×1028mobile electrons/m3.

(a) Which of the following statements about the circuit in the steady state are true? (1) At location B, the electric field points toward the top of the page. (2) The magnitude of the electric field at locations F and C is the same. (3) The magnitude of the electric field at locations D and F is the same. (4) The electron current at location D is the same as the electron current at location F . (b) Write a correct energy conservation (loop) equation for this circuit, following a path that starts at the negative end of the battery and goes counterclockwise. (c) Write this circuit's correct charge conservation (node) equation. (d) Use the appropriate equation(s), plus the equation relating electron current to electric field, to solve for the magnitudes EDand EF of the electric field at locations D and F . (e) Use the appropriate equation(s) to calculate the electron current at location D in the steady state.

In the few nanoseconds before the steady state is established in a circuit consisting of a battery, copper wires, and a single bulb, is the current the same everywhere in the circuit? Explain.

In a circuit with one battery, connecting wires, and a 12cmlength of Nichrome wire, a compass deflection of 6°is observed. What compass deflection would you expect in a circuit containing two batteries in a series, connecting wires and a36cm length of thicker Nichrome wire (double the cross-sectional area of the thin piece)? Explain.

How can there be a nonzero electric field inside a wire in a circuit? Isn’t the electric field inside a metal always zero?

In a table like the one shown, write an inequality comparing each quantity in the steady state for a narrow resistor and thick connecting wires, which are made of the same material as the resistor.

Electron current in resistor

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Electron current in Thick Wires

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Aw

uR

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ER

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vR

vw

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