Isothermal Process: Heat transfer can be observed in isothermal processes.Īdiabatic Process: There is no heat transfer in adiabatic processes. Isothermal Process:An isothermal process is a thermodynamic process that occurs under a constant temperature.Īdiabatic Process: Adiabatic process is a thermodynamic process that occurs without any heat transfer between a system and its surrounding. Difference Between Isothermal and Adiabatic Process Definition In adiabatic processes, the work done by the system changes the internal energy of the system. For example, if we quickly compress a gas in a cylinder, there’s not enough time for the system to transfer heat energy to the environment. Then, by regulating the temperature of the heat bath, we can control the temperature of the system to an appropriate level.Īn adiabatic process can be maintained by quickly doing the process. To maintain the temperature of the system, it can be kept in a heat bath. In order to keep the temperature of the system constant, heat should be transferred out of the system or into the system.Īpart from that, some other factors of the system also change during the progression of an isothermal process such as internal energy. This means an isothermal process occurs in a system where the temperature is constant. Key Terms: Adiabatic Process, Isothermal Process, Surrounding, System, Thermodynamic SystemĪn isothermal process is a thermodynamic process that occurs under a constant temperature. What is the Difference Between Isothermal and Adiabatic Process This indicates that the main difference between isothermal and adiabatic process is that isothermal process occurs under constant temperature whereas adiabatic process occurs under varying temperature. Here, the temperature of the system should be changed in order to avoid any heat transfer. Adiabatic process describes a process where no heat transfer occurs between a system and its surrounding. Isothermal process is a process that happens under constant temperature, but other parameters regarding the system can be changed accordingly. Thermodynamics uses the concepts isothermal process and adiabatic process to explain the behavior of a thermodynamic system and its relation to the temperature changes. W is positive, if work is done by the system and negative, if work is done on the system.Main Difference – Isothermal vs Adiabatic Process Here, Q is positive, if heat is added to the system and negative, if it is removed from the system. Thus, in an isothermal process, the work done is also given by the heat transferred to the system. Here, d V dV d V is the change in volume of the gas, which is equivalent to A d x Adx A d x. The force is the product of pressure (P) exerted by the gas on the piston and the area (A) of the piston.

Here, F is the force applied by the gas on the piston.

The work done by the gas can be calculated as, When the gas in cylinder expands and the piston is pushed upwards by a small distance dx, the work ( d W ) (dW) ( d W ) is done by the gas on the piston. Work is given by the product of force used to move an object and the distance by which the object is moved in the direction of the force. At a constant temperature, if the volume decreases, the pressure must increase or vice versa. The gas is neither heated nor cooled, but the system is in contact with a constant-temperature reservoir. Consider a gas confined in a cylinder by a movable piston moved to either expand or compress the gas.

Isothermal process workdone