In a thermodynamic system, the two main processes involved are adiabatic or isothermal. It is regarded as the former when the transformation (fluctuations or variations in temperature) are fast enough that no heat was significantly transferred between the outside environment and the system. When the transformation is very slow in that same system then the process is isothermal because the temperature of the system remains the same through the exchange of heat with the outer environment.
1. In an isothermal process, there is an exchange of heat between the system and the outside environment unlike in adiabatic processes wherein there is none.
2. In an isothermal process, the temperature of the material involved remains the same unlike in adiabatic processes wherein the temperature of the material being compressed may raise.
3. In an isothermal process, heat can be added or released from the system just to keep the same temperature while in an adiabatic process, there’s no heat added or released because maintaining constant temperature will not matter.
4. In an isothermal process, the transformation is slow while in an adiabatic process it is fast.