Exam-style question
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Explain how energy is transferred in a thermodynamic process when heat is added to a system and work is done by the system. Include the first law of thermodynamics in your explanation.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- When heat is added to a system, the internal energy of the system increases.
- According to the first law of thermodynamics, the change in internal energy is equal to the heat added to the system minus the work done by the system.
- This can be expressed as ΔU = Q - W, where ΔU is the change in internal energy, Q is the heat added, and W is the work done by the system.
Explanation
Why this works
This answer is strong because it directly applies the first law of thermodynamics to describe energy transfers in thermodynamic processes. It tests the understanding of how heat and work interact to affect internal energy.
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