Reversible Process

  • For a reversible process the net force driving is only differential in size.
  • The process can be reversed, leaving no change in the system or surroundings.
  • Work is transferred reversibly when the pressure difference between the system and surrounding are low.
–During reversible expansion, maximum work is produced by the system
–During reversible compression, minimum work is spent by the surroundings.
  • Heat is transferred reversibly when it flows from an object at temperature T to another object at temperature T – dT
  • All processes in real World are irreversible. Then why do we spend much time on discussing reversible processes?

–In the first place, reversible process represent a limiting behavior, i.e., the best we can hope for.
–Secondly, the reversible process is one for which we can readily do the calculations. However, we do not always need the assumption of reversibility.