Reversible and quasistatic processes
Restoring the system alone does not establish reversibility.
Key knowledge
A reversible ideal process can be reversed so both system and surroundings return to their original states. A quasistatic model moves through a succession of nearly equilibrium states, allowing state variables along the path; slowness alone does not remove friction or finite-gradient entropy production. Free expansion of an insulated ideal gas can leave its temperature unchanged while remaining irreversible.
Conditions and scope
- Reversibility is an ideal limiting condition on the entire system–surroundings process.
- A quasistatic path with dissipation is not automatically reversible. Returning an object to its initial state while dumping heat elsewhere does not restore the surroundings.
Sources · 2
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Samuel J. Ling, Jeff Sanny and William Moebs — OpenStax, Rice University, University Physics (2016)2 sources
- University Physics Volume 2, §4.1: reversible and irreversible processesSamuel J. Ling, Jeff Sanny and William Moebs — OpenStax, Rice University, University Physics (2016)Textbook chapter
- University Physics Volume 2, §3.4: thermodynamic processesSamuel J. Ling, Jeff Sanny and William Moebs — OpenStax, Rice University, University Physics (2016)Textbook chapter
Evidence and review
Read §4.1 system-and-environment reversible definition/free-expansion example and §3.4 quasistatic definition. The dissipation qualification follows the full-restoration requirement; exclude the source’s later blanket implication that drawing an equilibrium pV curve alone guarantees reversibility.
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