Sample interview questions: How do you calculate the internal energy of a system?
Sample answer:
Internal Energy Calculation Methods:
1. First Law of Thermodynamics:
U = Q – W
- U: Internal energy
- Q: Heat added to the system
- W: Work done by the system
2. Thermodynamic Properties:
U = U(T, V, n)
- T: Temperature
- V: Volume
- n: Number of moles
Specific methods for ideal gases:
3. Ideal Gas Equation:
U = (3/2)nRT
- R: Ideal gas constant
4. Adiabatic Processes:
U = U0 – Cv(T0 – T)
- U0: Initial internal energy
- Cv: Specific heat at constant volume
- T0: Initial temperature