Isolated System

Definition

An isolated system is a physical system that does not exchange any matter with its surroundings, but may exchange energy. It is a closed system that is completely separated from its environment, allowing for the study of the system's internal processes and the conservation of certain physical quantities.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In an isolated system, the total energy of the system remains constant, as no energy can be added or removed from the system.
2. The conservation of linear momentum is always satisfied in an isolated system, as the total linear momentum of the system remains constant over time.
3. The conservation of angular momentum is always satisfied in an isolated system, as the total angular momentum of the system remains constant over time.
4. Isolated systems are often used in physics to simplify the analysis of complex systems and to study the fundamental principles of conservation laws.
5. The concept of an isolated system is a useful idealization that helps physicists understand the behavior of real-world systems, even though true isolated systems are rare in nature.

Review Questions

• Explain how the concept of an isolated system is related to the conservation of energy.
  • In an isolated system, the total energy of the system remains constant over time, as no energy can be added or removed from the system. This means that the total energy of the system is conserved, and any changes in the system's energy must be due to the conversion of one form of energy into another, such as the conversion of kinetic energy into potential energy or vice versa. The conservation of energy is a fundamental principle that applies to isolated systems and is crucial for understanding the behavior of physical systems.
• Describe how the concept of an isolated system is connected to the conservation of linear momentum.
  • In an isolated system, the total linear momentum of the system remains constant over time, as no external forces are acting on the system. This means that the vector sum of the linear momenta of all the objects within the system is conserved, and any changes in the linear momentum of one object must be balanced by changes in the linear momentum of other objects within the system. The conservation of linear momentum is a fundamental principle that applies to isolated systems and is essential for understanding the dynamics of collisions and other physical processes.
• Analyze the relationship between the concept of an isolated system and the conservation of angular momentum.
  • In an isolated system, the total angular momentum of the system remains constant over time, as no external torques are acting on the system. This means that the vector sum of the angular momenta of all the objects within the system is conserved, and any changes in the angular momentum of one object must be balanced by changes in the angular momentum of other objects within the system. The conservation of angular momentum is a fundamental principle that applies to isolated systems and is crucial for understanding the dynamics of rotational motion, such as the motion of planets, stars, and other celestial bodies.

Related terms

Closed System:

A closed system is a system that does not exchange matter with its surroundings, but may exchange energy.

Open System: An open system is a system that exchanges both matter and energy with its surroundings.

Adiabatic Process: An adiabatic process is a thermodynamic process in which a system exchanges no heat with its surroundings.