In
thermodynamics
Thermodynamics is a branch of physics that deals with heat, Work (thermodynamics), work, and temperature, and their relation to energy, entropy, and the physical properties of matter and radiation. The behavior of these quantities is governed b ...
, a mechanically isolated system is a system that is mechanically constrained to disallow deformations, so that it cannot perform any work on its environment. It may however, exchange heat across the system boundary.
For a simple system, mechanical isolation is equivalent to a state of constant volume and any process which occurs in such a simple system is said to be
isochoric.
The opposite of a mechanically isolated system is a mechanically open system, which allows the transfer of mechanical energy. For a simple system, a mechanically open boundary is one that is allowed to move under pressure differences between the two sides of the boundary. At
mechanical equilibrium, the pressures on both sides of a mechanically open boundary are equal, but only a mechanically isolating boundary can support pressure differences.
See also
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Closed system
A closed system is a natural physical system that does not allow transfer of matter in or out of the system, althoughin the contexts of physics, chemistry, engineering, etc.the transfer of energy (e.g. as work or heat) is allowed.
Physics
In cl ...
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Thermally isolated system In thermodynamics, a thermally isolated system can exchange no mass or heat energy with its environment. The internal energy of a thermally isolated system may therefore change due to the exchange of work energy. The entropy of a thermally isolated ...
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Dynamical system
In mathematics, a dynamical system is a system in which a Function (mathematics), function describes the time dependence of a Point (geometry), point in an ambient space, such as in a parametric curve. Examples include the mathematical models ...
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Open system
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Thermodynamic system
A thermodynamic system is a body of matter and/or radiation separate from its surroundings that can be studied using the laws of thermodynamics.
Thermodynamic systems can be passive and active according to internal processes. According to inter ...
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Isolated system
References
Thermodynamic systems
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