Thermodynamic Systems
Definition
A thermodynamic system refers to a specific region or object under study that is separated from its surroundings by boundaries. It can be an open system, closed system, or isolated system.
Analogy
Think of a thermodynamic system like a fish tank. The fish tank represents the boundaries of the system, and everything inside it (the water, plants, and fish) is part of the system. Anything outside the tank is considered the surroundings.
Related terms
Surroundings: The surroundings refer to everything outside the boundaries of the thermodynamic system.
Open System: An open system allows both matter and energy to be exchanged with its surroundings.
Closed System: A closed system only allows energy transfer with its surroundings but not matter exchange.
"Thermodynamic Systems" appears in:
Additional resources (1)
Are you a college student?
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.