What is an irreversible process? - Thermodynamics
Q. A process in which work is done without producing an equivalent increase in the kinetic or potential energy of any system is- Published on 20 Aug 15a. a reversible process
b. an irreversible process
c. a quasi-static process
d. none of the above
ANSWER: an irreversible process
When a work is done without producing an equivalent increase in the kinetic or potential energy of any system then there are some energy losses in the process. This is called as dissipative effect. Work is dissipated in this process.
In a dissipative effect the energy is transformed from one form to another form and the final form of energy has a less capacity to do mechanical work. Thus this process becomes irreversible as we can not reverse this process without any external effect on the system.
