Adiabatic Process (Noun)
Meaning
(thermodynamics) any process that occurs without gain or loss of heat.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- An adiabatic process is often achieved through the use of insulated containers or very short time intervals to minimize heat transfer.
- The expansion of gas in the cylinder of a diesel engine can be used to approximate an adiabatic process, since the process occurs too quickly for significant heat transfer to take place.
- Certain types of refrigeration systems rely on adiabatic processes to transfer heat from one location to another without letting it escape to the surrounding environment.
- To approximate an adiabatic process in laboratory experiments, researchers may use insulating materials or perform experiments very quickly.
- Certain real-world processes such as the rise and fall of compressed air bubbles in a deep lake can often be modeled as adiabatic processes due to their rapid occurrence.