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Cyclic processes and isolated systems
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Cyclic process: a process that eventually returns a system to its initial state.
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Isolated system: no exchange of work or heat of a system with its surroundings. |
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Infinitesimal changes of states: 
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 and are inexact differentials (不完全微分).
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Kinds of thermodynamic processes |
Adiabatic process (绝热过程):  |
Isochoric (constant volume) process:  |
Isobaric (constant pressure) process: 
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Isothermal process: for ideal gas,
The internal energy of an ideal gas is a function of temperature only.
The temperature of an ideal gas in a free expansion experiment doesn’t change. |
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Heat capacities of an ideal gas |
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Constant volume process:
Constant pressure process:
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Ratio of heat capacities:  |
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Adiabatic processes for an ideal gas |
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Work done in adiabatic process:  |
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