Examples of Irreversible Processes
In the physical realm, many irreversible processes are present to which the inability to achieve 100% efficiency in energy transfer can be attributed. The following is a list of spontaneous events which contribute to the irreversibility of processes.
- Heat transfer through a finite temperature difference
- Friction
- Inelastic deformation
- Electric flow through a resistance
- Magnetization or polarization with a hysteresis
- Unrestrained expansion of fluids
- Spontaneous chemical reactions
- Spontaneous mixing of matter of varying composition/states
A Joule expansion is an example of classical thermodynamics, as it is easy to work out the resulting increase in entropy. It occurs where a volume of gas is kept in one side of a thermally isolated container (via a small partition), with the other side of the container being evacuated; the partition between the two parts of the container is then opened, and the gas fills the whole container.
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