What is the Difference Between Adiabatic and Isothermal?

The main difference between Adiabatic and Isothermal processes lies in the transfer of heat between the system and its surroundings. Here are the key differences between the two processes:

• Transfer of heat: In an isothermal process, there is a transfer of heat to the surroundings to maintain the overall temperature constant. In contrast, there is no transfer of heat in an adiabatic process, meaning the system is thermally isolated.
• Temperature: The temperature remains constant in an isothermal process, while it changes in an adiabatic process due to internal system variations.
• Pressure: For a given volume, the pressure is more in an isothermal process but lower in an adiabatic process.
• Transformation speed: The transformation is usually slow in an isothermal process, whereas it is faster in an adiabatic process.

These processes are important in thermodynamics, and understanding their differences is crucial for studying various energy transformations and system behavior.

Comparative Table: Adiabatic vs Isothermal

Here is a table that compares the differences between adiabatic and isothermal processes:

In summary, the main difference between adiabatic and isothermal processes is whether heat is exchanged with the surroundings or not. In an adiabatic process, there is no heat transfer, while in an isothermal process, heat is exchanged to maintain a constant temperature.