Question

Consider the processes A and B shown in the figure. It is possible that


(a) both the processes are isothermal
(b) both the processes are adiabatic
(c) A is isothermal and B is adiabatic
(d) A is adiabatic and B is isothermal

Answer 1

(c) A is isothermal and B is adiabatic
The slope of an adiabatic process is greater than that of an isothermal process. Since A and B are initiated from the same initial state, both cannot be isothermal or adiabatic, as they would be overlapping. But the curve of process B is steeper than the curve of process A. Hence, A is isothermal and B is adiabatic.