November 20, 2024
Heat, Work, and Energy: Thermodynamics Essentials for NEET Aspirants
Preparing for the NEET with the detailed concept and knowledge of thermodynamics essentials is mandatory to secure a good rank. Thermodynamics deals with heat, energy, various physical transformations and chemical processes. The various topics like the concepts of closed, open, and isolated systems, thermodynamics rules and formulas, Gibbs free energy, and the crucial laws of thermodynamics are very important to learn for the NEET aspirants.
It is recommended to get started with the basic definitions, laws, and concepts of thermodynamics before diving into the various mechanisms like the carnot cycle process. Let’s get started to guide you on how to start with thermodynamics for your NEET preparation.
Start with the basics like learning the various types of systems and their properties.
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Open System
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Open system can not only exchange matter but also energy with the surroundings.
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Closed System
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Closed systems can exchange energy but not matter with the surroundings.
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Isolated system
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Isolated systems cannot exchange energy and matter with the surroundings.
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Extensive properties
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These properties depend upon the amount of matter in a sample. For example: Mass and Volume.
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Intensive properties
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These properties depend upon the type of matter in a sample and independent of the amount. Example: Pressure and temperature.
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The next important topic is understanding the various thermodynamic processes. Thermodynamics deals with the relationship between Heat and various forms of energy.
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Isothermal Process
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The temperature of the system remains constant.
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Isochoric Process
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The volume of the system remains constant.
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Isobaric Process
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The pressure is constant throughout the process.
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Adiabatic Process
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It is the process where no heat exchange takes place between the system and the surroundings.
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Cyclic Process
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When a system performs a series of processes and then returns to its original state, it is known as the cyclic process.
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Reversible process
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Process that is reversible in nature. During reversing the process, no changes in the environment is allowed by the system or its surroundings.
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Irreversible process
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Process that is irreversible in nature. When a process jumps from the initial state to the final state in a single step, it is an irreversible process.
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Understanding the various laws of thermodynamics is a must. There are four laws of thermodynamics that you can’t skip:
- First law of thermodynamics: This law is also known as the law of conservation. It states that energy can neither be created nor be destroyed. It can only be transformed from one form to another.
- Second law of Thermodynamics: The entropy state of the entire universe as an isolated system will always increase with time.
- Third law of thermodynamics: The entropy of all perfectly crystalline solids is zero at absolute zero.
- Zeroth law of thermodynamics: If two systems A and B are in thermodynamic equilibrium with a third system C, then it is said that both A and B are in thermal equilibrium with each other.
NOTE: It is to be noted that this is just the summary of these laws, definitions, and various processes. Concepts such as enthalpy, entropy, the working and mechanism of a carnot engine, Gibbs free energy, specific and molar heat capacities and all their formulas are very important from the NEET point of view. The detailed concept of these topics, evaluation, and core understanding is necessary to be able to solve questions on these topics.
Let’s look at some of the tips and tricks so that you can prepare for thermodynamics effectively:
- Understand the concepts: Start with learning the basic thermal properties of matter like the heat, temperature and the various laws of thermodynamics. Then proceed with the concepts of heat transfer and specific heat capacities that will help you build a strong foundation before diving into the vast world of thermodynamics. Learn kinetic theory of gases too as it will give you an insight into the relationship between pressure, volume, and temperature in gases.
- Focus on the important concepts: Familiarize yourself with the four laws of thermodynamics and its real life applications. Study the enthalpy, entropy, and internal energy theories and formulas. Understand how to apply the various thermodynamic processes to different systems. Don’t skip the heat engines, carnot cycle, and refrigerators concepts and problems.
- Make sure that you practice: Just learning the theories and mugging up examples will never give you results. Practice numerical problems related to the heat transfer, carnot cycle, and efficiency of various systems. Focus on previous year questions to understand the types of questions that might be asked in your NEET exam.
- Focus on NCERT and high-quality study resources: Learn NCERT by heart and practice all the chapter based questions. Then refer to some other reference books like H.C. Verma to gain additional knowledge.
- Focus on frequent revision: Make formula charts and summary sheets so that you can revise frequently. Focus on each important topic, definitions, and concepts.
- Ensure proper time management schedule: Allocate sufficient time to self-study sessions, practicing papers, and clearing doubts. Balance it with other subjects and chapters without hampering any. Make sure you combine theory sessions with plenty of practice sessions to excel in thermodynamics!
FAQS:
1. What does the first law of thermodynamics state?
The first law of thermodynamics states that energy can neither be created nor be destroyed. It can only be transformed from one state to another.
2. What do you mean by specific heat capacity?
Specific heat capacity is defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one degree celsius.
3. How is Gibbs free energy different from internal energy?
Gibbs free energy is the energy that is related to a chemical reaction which can be efficiently used to do work. A negative Gibbs free energy indicates a spontaneous reaction.
Internal energy refers to the total amount of kinetic energy, electrical energy and potential energy contained within a system.
