Question

Explain the change in internal energy of a thermodynamic system (the gas) by heating it.
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Hint:

Heating a gas increases its internal energy by raising its temperature, which is stored as the kinetic energy of the molecules.

Answer 1

The internal energy of a thermodynamic system represents the total energy contained within the system, which includes both kinetic and potential energy. When a gas is heated, its temperature rises, causing the average kinetic energy of the molecules to increase. This increase in kinetic energy leads to a corresponding increase in the internal energy, as the internal energy of an ideal gas is directly proportional to its temperature. \[ \Delta U = nC_V \Delta T \] where \( \Delta U \) is the change in internal energy, \( n \) is the number of moles, \( C_V \) is the molar specific heat at constant volume, and \( \Delta T \) is the change in temperature. \bigskip