What characterizes an adiabatic process?

An adiabatic process is characterized by the fact that no heat is exchanged with the surroundings. This means that during an adiabatic transformation, the system is insulated in such a way that heat transfer does not occur. Consequently, any change in the internal energy of the system results solely from work done on or by the system.

In an adiabatic process, the temperature of the system can change; if work is done on the system, the temperature can increase, while if work is done by the system, the temperature can decrease. The key distinction lies in the absence of heat exchange with the environment, which is a critical aspect of an adiabatic process.

Understanding this concept is vital in thermodynamics, as it distinguishes adiabatic processes from isothermal processes, where the temperature remains constant due to heat exchange. The notion that work done is zero is also incorrect in this context; instead, work can indeed happen during an adiabatic process but without heat transfer taking place. This understanding lays the foundation for analyzing various thermodynamic systems and processes effectively.