AP Physics C questions on Thermodynamic Processes and Systems

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🔥 Thermodynamic System: A defined region of space where energy and matter are studied. Types include open, closed, and isolated systems.
• 🌡️ Thermodynamic Process: A process involving changes in the thermodynamic state of a system (e.g., temperature, pressure, volume).
• 🔄 Isothermal Process: A process occurring at constant temperature. The work done is given by $W = nRT \ln{\frac{V_2}{V_1}}$, where $n$ is the number of moles, $R$ is the ideal gas constant, $T$ is the temperature, and $V_1$ and $V_2$ are the initial and final volumes.
• 💢 Adiabatic Process: A process occurring without heat transfer ($Q = 0$). The relationship between pressure and volume is $PV^\gamma = constant$, where $\gamma = \frac{C_P}{C_V}$ is the adiabatic index.
• ⚖️ Isobaric Process: A process occurring at constant pressure. The work done is given by $W = P(V_2 - V_1)$.
• 💧 Isochoric (or Isovolumetric) Process: A process occurring at constant volume. No work is done ($W = 0$).
• 🧊 First Law of Thermodynamics: $\Delta U = Q - W$, where $\Delta U$ is the change in internal energy, $Q$ is the heat added to the system, and $W$ is the work done by the system.
• entropy 🌡️ Entropy: A measure of the disorder of a system. The change in entropy is given by $\Delta S = \int \frac{dQ}{T}$.

🧪 Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following processes occurs at constant temperature?
   1. Isothermal
   2. Adiabatic
   3. Isobaric
   4. Isochoric
2. In an adiabatic process, what quantity remains constant?
   1. Temperature
   2. Pressure
   3. Heat
   4. Volume
3. For an isobaric process, the work done is given by:
   1. $W = nRT \ln{\frac{V_2}{V_1}}$
   2. $W = P(V_2 - V_1)$
   3. $W = 0$
   4. $W = \Delta U$
4. In an isochoric process, what is the work done?
   1. $P(V_2 - V_1)$
   2. $nRT \ln{\frac{V_2}{V_1}}$
   3. Zero
   4. $\Delta U$
5. According to the first law of thermodynamics, which equation is correct?
   1. $\Delta U = Q + W$
   2. $\Delta U = Q - W$
   3. $Q = \Delta U - W$
   4. $W = Q + \Delta U$
6. What does entropy measure in a thermodynamic system?
   1. Energy
   2. Temperature
   3. Disorder
   4. Pressure
7. Which type of system allows both energy and matter to be exchanged with its surroundings?
   1. Closed system
   2. Isolated system
   3. Open system
   4. Adiabatic system