what is the main difference between a reversible and irreversible process in thermodynamics
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HESI A2

HESI Exams Quizlet Physics

1. What is the main difference between a reversible and irreversible process in thermodynamics?

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A reversible process is an idealized process that can be reversed without leaving any change in either the system or the surroundings. In contrast, irreversible processes cannot be reversed and often involve entropy production or dissipation. Choice A is incorrect because both reversible and irreversible processes can involve heat transfer. Choice B is incorrect as the speed of a process does not determine its reversibility. Choice D is incorrect because reversible processes do not violate the first law of thermodynamics; they comply with it by maintaining a balance between energy inputs and outputs. Therefore, the correct answer is C, as it accurately captures the main difference between reversible and irreversible processes in thermodynamics.

2. Jack stands in front of a plane mirror. If he is 5 feet away from the mirror, how far away from Jack is his image?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: When Jack stands in front of a plane mirror, his image appears the same distance behind the mirror as Jack is in front of it. Therefore, if Jack is 5 feet away from the mirror, his image will also appear 5 feet behind the mirror. The total distance from Jack to his image is the sum of these distances, which equals 10 feet. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because the image distance is not half of the total distance but the same as the object's distance from the mirror.

3. What is the phenomenon by which light bends as it passes through a prism known as?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Refraction is the phenomenon by which light bends as it passes through a prism or any other medium boundary. When light transitions from one medium to another, such as air to glass in the case of a prism, it changes speed and direction due to the change in the medium's refractive index. This change in speed causes the light to bend. Reflection, on the other hand, is the bouncing back of light when it hits a surface. Diffraction refers to the bending of light around obstacles or through narrow openings. Electrical conduction involves the movement of electrically charged particles through a conductor, which is unrelated to the bending of light.

4. When a hot cup of coffee is placed on a cold table, heat transfer primarily occurs through which process?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: When a hot cup of coffee is placed on a cold table, heat transfer primarily occurs through conduction. Conduction is the process of heat transfer through direct contact between objects at different temperatures. In this scenario, the heat from the hot coffee cup is transferred to the cold table through direct contact, making conduction the primary mode of heat transfer. Choice A (Radiation) is incorrect because radiation is the transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves, which is not the primary mode of heat transfer in this scenario. Choice C (Convection within the coffee) is incorrect because convection is the transfer of heat through the movement of fluids, which is not the primary mode of heat transfer in this scenario. Choice D (A combination of conduction and convection) is incorrect because while convection may play a minor role due to air currents around the cup, the primary mode of heat transfer in this scenario is conduction.

5. The speed of sound in dry air at 20°C is 343 m/s. If the wavelength of a sound wave is 5 m, what is its frequency?

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The speed of sound (v) can be calculated using the formula: v = f × λ, where f is the frequency and λ is the wavelength. Given that the speed of sound is 343 m/s and the wavelength is 5 m, we can rearrange the formula to solve for frequency: f = v / λ = 343 / 5 = 68.6 Hz. Therefore, the correct frequency is 68.6 Hz. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect as they do not result from the correct calculation based on the given values.

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