Adiabatic Process is that in which no transfer of _____ occur? (a) Energy (b) Mass (c) Both a and b (d) none The answer given in key is (a) but I think that the answer must be (c).

1 Answer
Jul 9, 2017

(a) is correct

Explanation:

An adiabatic process is one in which no heat energy is transferred #(Q=0)#. Mass does not factor in.

In practice, there are two ways that an adiabatic process can occur.

First, a gas cylinder can be completely surrounded by thermal insulation (such as thick pieces of Styrofoam) such that the environment can interact mechanically with the gas by pushing or pulling on the insulated piston, but there is no thermal interaction.

Second, the gas can be expanded or compressed very rapidly in what is called an adiabatic expansion or an adiabatic compression. In a rapid process there is essentially no time for heat to be transferred between the gas and the environment.