Saturday, May 27, 2023

10 Common Thermodynamics Questions Asked in The Interviews: Theory Series 01

  

1.     What is the First Law of Thermodynamics? 

Answer: The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system. It can only change forms or be transferred from one system to another.

2.     What is the Second Law of Thermodynamics? 

Answer: The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that the total entropy of an isolated system always increases over time. It implies that natural processes tend to move towards a state of higher disorder or randomness.

3.     What is enthalpy and how is it related to thermodynamics? 

Answer: Enthalpy (H) is a thermodynamic property that represents the total heat content of a system. It is given by the sum of the internal energy (U) and the product of pressure (P) and volume (V) of the system, H = U + PV.

4.     Explain the Carnot cycle. 

Answer: The Carnot cycle is a theoretical thermodynamic cycle that represents the most efficient heat engine possible. It consists of four reversible processes: isothermal expansion, adiabatic expansion, isothermal compression, and adiabatic compression. The Carnot cycle operates between two heat reservoirs at different temperatures.

5.     What is entropy? 

Answer: Entropy (S) is a measure of the degree of randomness or disorder in a system. It quantifies the number of possible microscopic states that a system can have. Entropy tends to increase in natural processes, indicating an increase in system disorder.

6.     Define specific heat capacity and its relation to thermodynamics. 

Answer: Specific heat capacity (c) is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius. It is a material property that influences the amount of energy needed to change the temperature of a substance during a thermodynamic process.

7.     Explain the concept of work done in thermodynamics. Answer: In thermodynamics, work is defined as the energy transfer that occurs due to the application of a force over a distance. It represents the ability to perform mechanical tasks or produce changes in the system. Work can be done on or by the system, and it is typically expressed as the product of force and displacement.

8.     What is a heat exchanger? 

Answer: A heat exchanger is a device used to transfer thermal energy between two or more fluids at different temperatures. It facilitates the efficient exchange of heat by bringing the fluids in close contact without mixing them. Heat exchangers are widely used in various industrial and HVAC systems.

9.     What is the difference between an open system and a closed system in thermodynamics?

 Answer: In thermodynamics, an open system allows the transfer of both energy and matter across its boundaries. In contrast, a closed system only allows the transfer of energy across its boundaries but not matter. The concept of an isolated system does not permit the transfer of either energy or matter.

10.  Explain the concept of a phase diagram in thermodynamics. 

Answer: A phase diagram is a graphical representation that shows the relationships between different phases (solid, liquid, gas) of a substance under various combinations of temperature and pressure. It illustrates the conditions at which phase transitions occur and provides insights into the behavior of substances under different thermodynamic conditions.

  You can read the Madhurjya Saikia's books on the following topics

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