Is the Change in Internal Energy Just 4513 J When No Work Is Done?

The system includes the pressure cooker, water, and steam. If 2.0 g of water is vaporized in a sealed pressure cooker with 4513 J of added heat, the change in the system's internal energy can be determined using the equation U = Q - W. Since the system is doing no work, the change in internal energy would be 4513 J. There is no other relevant information provided.
  • #1
yinnxz
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Homework Statement
The lid of a pressure cooker forms a nearly
airtight seal. Steam builds up pressure and
increases temperature within the pressure
cooker so that food cooks faster than it does
in an ordinary pot. The system is defined as
the pressure cooker and the water and steam
within it.

If 2.0 g of water is sealed in a pressure
cooker and then vaporized by heating, and
4513 J must be added as heat to completely
vaporize the water, what is the change in the
system’s internal energy?
Relevant Equations
U = Q - W
Since the system is doing no work, would it be just 4513 J? I don't think there is any other information to use
 
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  • #2
yinnxz said:
Homework Statement: The lid of a pressure cooker forms a nearly
airtight seal. Steam builds up pressure and
increases temperature within the pressure
cooker so that food cooks faster than it does
in an ordinary pot. The system is defined as
the pressure cooker and the water and steam
within it.

If 2.0 g of water is sealed in a pressure
cooker and then vaporized by heating, and
4513 J must be added as heat to completely
vaporize the water, what is the change in the
system’s internal energy?
Relevant Equations: U = Q - W

Since the system is doing no work, would it be just 4513 J? I don't think there is any other information to use
Correct
 
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FAQ: Is the Change in Internal Energy Just 4513 J When No Work Is Done?

What is internal energy?

Internal energy is the total energy contained within a system, encompassing both the kinetic energy of the molecules and the potential energy of the interactions between them. It is a state function, meaning it depends only on the current state of the system, not on how the system reached that state.

How is internal energy related to work and heat?

Internal energy is related to work and heat through the first law of thermodynamics, which states that the change in internal energy of a system is equal to the heat added to the system minus the work done by the system on its surroundings. Mathematically, this is expressed as ΔU = Q - W, where ΔU is the change in internal energy, Q is the heat added, and W is the work done.

What does it mean when no work is done on or by the system?

When no work is done on or by the system, it means that the work term (W) in the first law of thermodynamics equation is zero. In this case, the change in internal energy (ΔU) is solely due to the heat added to or removed from the system. Therefore, ΔU = Q when W = 0.

Is the change in internal energy always equal to the heat added when no work is done?

Yes, when no work is done on or by the system, the change in internal energy is equal to the heat added to or removed from the system. This is a direct consequence of the first law of thermodynamics, where ΔU = Q when W = 0.

Can the change in internal energy be negative?

Yes, the change in internal energy can be negative. A negative change in internal energy indicates that the system has lost energy, typically due to heat being removed from the system. Conversely, a positive change in internal energy indicates that the system has gained energy, typically due to heat being added.

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