Entropy change of an ideal gas determination with no reversible process

Abstract

As is stressed in literature [1], [2], the entropy change, deltaS, during a given irreversible process is determined through the substitution of the actual process by a reversible one which carries the system between the same equilibrium states. This can be done since entropy is a state function. However this may suggest to the students the idea that this procedure is mandatory. We try to demystify this idea, showing that we can preserve the original process. Another motivation for this paper is to emphasize the relevance of the reservoirs concept, in particular the work reservoir, which is usually neglected in the literature<A NAME="tx02"></A><A HREF="#nt02">2</A>. Starting by exploring briefly the symmetries associated to the first law of Thermodynamics, we obtain an equation which relates both the system and neighborhood variables and allows entropy changes determination without using any auxiliary reversible process. Then, simulations of an irreversible ideal gas process are presented using Mathematica©, which we believe to be of pedagogical value in emphasizing the exposed ideas and clarifying some possible misunderstandings relating to the difficult concept of entropy [4].