Question

If a gas at constant temperature and pressure expands, then its: (a) Internal energy decreases (b) Entropy increases and then decreases (c) Internal energy increases (d) Internal energy remains constant

Short answer

(d) Internal energy remains constant.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the Scenario

We are dealing with a gas expansion under conditions where both temperature and pressure remain constant. This scenario suggests an isothermal process. In an isothermal process, the temperature is kept constant.

Identifying Internal Energy Change

According to the first law of thermodynamics, the change in internal energy (9U) for an isothermal process is given by 9U = Q - W. Since temperature is constant, the internal energy (9U) also remains constant because the average kinetic energy of the gas molecules does not change.

Evaluating the Options

Given that the internal energy remains constant in an isothermal process, and considering the options provided: (a) INTERNAL ENERGY decreases, (b) ENTROPY increases and then decreases, (c) INTERNAL ENERGY increases, (d) INTERNAL ENERGY remains constant. The correct choice aligns with the internal energy remaining constant.

Key concepts

Understanding Internal Energy

The concept of internal energy is fundamental in thermodynamics. It represents the total energy contained within a system, including both the kinetic energy of molecules moving around and potential energy from molecular interactions. In an isothermal process, where temperature remains constant, the internal energy of a gas does not change. This is because internal energy in gases is largely dependent on temperature. Since the temperature stays the same, the kinetic energy of molecules — the main contributor to internal energy in gases — remains unchanged. Therefore, during an isothermal expansion or compression, the internal energy remains constant. This means option (d) in our original exercise is correctly identifying that the internal energy doesn't decrease or increase.

Exploring Entropy

Entropy is a measure of the disorder or randomness in a system. During an isothermal process, as a gas expands, its entropy increases because the molecules have more space to move around. It's worth noting that entropy is closely related to the second law of thermodynamics, which states that the entropy of an isolated system always increases over time. However, our original exercise is focused on an isothermal expansion where the system can exchange energy with its surroundings, primarily through heat transfer. Thus, when considering an isothermal expansion in an open system brought about by constant temperature and pressure, the entropy of the gas actually increases rather than decreasing. This means option (b) in the original exercise is not entirely accurate — entropy increases but does not decrease.

Delving into the First Law of Thermodynamics

The first law of thermodynamics is often referred to as the law of energy conservation. It states that energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only change forms. Mathematically, it is expressed as:\[ \Delta U = Q - W \]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.In the context of an isothermal process, the temperature remains constant, indicating no change in internal energy (\(\Delta U = 0\)). This implies that the heat added to the system \(Q\) is equal to the work done by the system \(W\). Thus when a gas expands isothermally, any heat absorbed by the gas is directly converted into work done by it.This relation helps confirm why the internal energy remains constant in isothermal processes, reiterating our earlier exercise findings.