For irreversible process from state 1 to 2, why can the system not be isolated for reversible process from 1 to 2?

  • #1
zenterix
671
83
Homework Statement
There is a basic derivation about entropy that is shown below that I still have doubts about even though I am able to do various calculations involving entropy.
Relevant Equations
Consider an isolated system and an irreversible process A from state 1 to state 2.
Then

$$q_{irrev}=0\tag{1}$$

Take the system from state 2 back to state 1 using a reversible process B.

My first question is: why can the system not be isolated for this reversible process to be possible?

Assume we have a non-isolated system in process B.

Process A and process B together form an irreversible cycle.

$$\oint dS<0\tag{2}$$

$$\oint dS=\int_1^2 dS_{irrev}+\int_2^1 dS_{rev}\tag{3}$$

$$=\int_2^1 dS_{rev}\tag{4}$$

$$=S_1-S_2<0\tag{5}$$

$$\implies S_2-S_1>0\tag{6}$$

From (3) to (4) we used the fact that ##dS_{irrev}=\frac{\delta q_{irrev}}{T}=0##.

(6) tells us that the entropy always increases for an irreversible process in an isolated system.

This is the basis for saying that entropy never decreases in the universe.

The universe is an isolated system so any irreversible process in it generates entropy increase.

Any reversible process in the universe is done such that

$$\delta q_{sys,rev}=-\delta q_{surr,rev}$$

$$d S_{sys,rev}=\frac{\delta q_{sys,rev}}{T}$$

$$d S_{surr,rev}=\frac{\delta q_{surr,rev}}{T}=-\frac{\delta q_{sys,rev}}{T}$$

$$\implies dS_{univ}=dS_{sys,rev}+dS_{surr,rev}=0$$

Thus,

$$dS_{univ}\geq 0$$
 
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  • #2
zenterix said:
Homework Statement: There is a basic derivation about entropy that is shown below that I still have doubts about even though I am able to do various calculations involving entropy.
Relevant Equations: Consider an isolated system and an irreversible process A from state 1 to state 2.

Then

$$q_{irrev}=0\tag{1}$$

Take the system from state 2 back to state 1 using a reversible process B.

My first question is: why can the system not be isolated for this reversible process to be possible?
The isolated system's entropy change is positive when it goes from state 1 to 2 irreversibly
and the surroundings' entropy change is zero since nothing happens in the surroundings.

For a reversible process between the same states (from 1 to 2) the system's entropy change is the same as for the irreversible process since entropy is state function.
For the process to be reversible the total entropy change has to be zero.
Therefore the surroundings' entropy change has to be negative.
This means heat has to leave the surroundings and enter the system and the system cannot be isolated.
 

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