A Summary of Thermodynamic Processes

Statement of the first law:   dE = dQ + dW

dE ≡ change in the total energy of the system
dQ ≡ heat added to the system
dW ≡ work done on the system

ProcessBasic PrincipledW dE dQ
Isochoric
(Constant Volume)
dW = 0 0 n CV dT dE
Isobaric
(Constant Pressure)
dQ ≠ 0
dE ≠ 0
- PdV = - Nk dT n CV dT n CP dT
Isothermal
(Constant Temp.)
dE = 0
- NkT ln (
Vf
Vi
)
0 - dW
Adiabatic
(No Heat)
dQ = 0 ∝ - &int dV/Vγ - dW0
Free ExpansiondQ = 0;
dT = 0
000