Calculate the change in internal energy of the following system: A balloon is cooled by removing 0.652 kJkJ of heat. It shrinks on cooling, and the atmosphere does 389 JJ of work on the balloon. Express your an

Question:

Calculate the change in internal energy of the following system: A balloon is cooled by removing 0.652 kJ of heat. It shrinks on cooling, and the atmosphere does 389 J of work on the balloon. Express your answer in Joules (J)

-263J

Explanation:

Though its difficult and infact impossible to measure the internal energy of a system, the change in internal energy ΔE, can however be determined. This change when it is accompanied by work(W) and transfer of heat(Q) in or out of the system, can be calculated as follows;

ΔE = Q + W       (i)

Q is negative if heat is lost. It is positive otherwise

W is negative if work is done by the system. It is positive otherwise.

From the question;

Q = -0.652kJ = -652J    {the negative sign shows heat loss}

W = +389J                      {the positive sign shows work done on the system(balloon)}

Substitute these values into equation (i) as follows;

ΔE = -652 + 389

ΔE = -263J

Therefore the change in internal energy is -263J

PS: The negative sign shows that the process is exothermic. This means that the system (balloon) lost some energy to the environment.

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