Types of Thermodynamics Systems

Introduction

System: 

                 A quantity of matter or a region in space under consideration

Surroundings:

                       Mass or region outside the system

Boundary :

                   The surface that separates system and surroundings  

Types of Thermodynamics Systems

There are three types of systems in thermodynamics: open, closed, and isolated.

Closed system:

A system which can exchange only energy with its surroundings, not matter. If we put a very tightly fitting lid on the pot from the previous example, it would approximate a closed system.

Open System:

A system which can exchange both energy and matter with its surroundings. The stovetop example would be an open system because heat and water vapor can be lost to the air.

Closed system:

A system which can exchange only energy with its surroundings, not matter. If we put a very tightly fitting lid on the pot from the previous example, it would approximate a closed system.

Isolated System:

                             A system that cannot exchange either matter or energy with its surroundings. A perfect isolated system is hard to come by, but an insulated drink cooler with a lid is conceptually similar to a truly isolated system. The items inside can exchange energy with each other, which is why the drinks get cold and the ice melts a little, but they exchange very little energy (heat) with the outside environment.