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Isothermal and Adiabatic Processes — Syllabus

ICSE · Class 11 · Physics

What Isothermal and Adiabatic Processes covers in ICSE Class 11 Physics: 4 topics, for the 2026-27 session. Part of the ICSE Class 11 Physics syllabus.

78 questions27 flashcards21 formulas & key relations5 concepts

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4 Topics · ICSE Class 11 Physics · 2026-27

Topics in Isothermal and Adiabatic Processes

1

1. Isothermal Process

  • An isothermal process is a physical change in which the temperature of the system remains constant throughout.
  • For an ideal gas, an isothermal process obeys Boyle's law: PV = constant.
  • In an isothermal process, the internal energy of an ideal gas remains constant because it depends only on temperature.
2

2. Adiabatic Process

  • An adiabatic process is a physical change in which no heat is exchanged between the system and the surroundings.
  • For an ideal gas, an adiabatic process obeys Poisson's law: PV^γ = constant.
  • The system must be perfectly insulated for a true adiabatic process.
3

3. Comparison of Isothermal and Adiabatic Processes

  • In isothermal change, temperature remains constant and internal energy does not change.
  • In adiabatic change, no heat exchange takes place and temperature changes.
  • Isothermal process is slow and requires perfectly conducting surroundings.
4

4. Work Done in Isothermal and Adiabatic Processes

  • Work done in thermodynamic processes is represented by the area under the P-V graph.
  • In isothermal expansion, the work expression contains temperature and the volume or pressure ratio.
  • In adiabatic expansion, the work depends on the initial and final states and on gamma.

Key Concepts

Central concept: Thermodynamic processes in an ideal gas where temperature, heat exchange, pressure, volume, work, and specific heats are linked through Boyle's law, Poisson's law, and Mayer's relation

Isothermal processAdiabatic processIsothermal curveAdiabatic curveSpecific heats of gasesMayer's relationWork done in isothermal processWork done in adiabatic process

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in Isothermal and Adiabatic Processes for ICSE Class 11 Physics?
Key topics in Isothermal and Adiabatic Processes include Isothermal Process, Adiabatic Process, Comparison of Isothermal and Adiabatic Processes, Work Done in Isothermal and Adiabatic Processes. Study these first, then practise questions on each for Class 11 exams.
How should I revise Isothermal and Adiabatic Processes for Class 11 exams?
Learn the core ideas first, then work through the 78 practice questions on Isothermal and Adiabatic Processes. Revise definitions regularly and use flashcards for quick recall before the exam.

Sources & Official References

Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.

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