Why is q positive in an isothermal expansion?

1 Answer
Jan 27, 2018

Because it has to flow into the system for it to expand without changing the temperature.


An isothermal expansion is what it sounds like... increasing volume at constant temperature.

For an ideal gas, the internal energy is only a function of temperature, so the first law of thermodynamics reads

#cancel(DeltaU)^(0) = q + w#

where #DeltaU# is the change in internal energy, #q# is heat flow, and #w# is work from the perspective of the SYSTEM.

Thus, #q = -w#. Since work is from the perspective of the SYSTEM, expansion work requires energy, and so, #w < 0#. As a result,

#-q < 0#

and that therefore means #q > 0#.

If it were a nonideal gas, it could expand not as easily (i.e. attractive intermolecular forces dominate), or it could expand too easily (i.e. repulsive intermolecular forces dominate). As a result, #DeltaU ne 0# for such a nonideal gas.