Skip to main content

Abstract

A process is said to be reversible if, after it has occurred, the initial states of all systems taking part can be restored without outstanding changes in the states of other systems, notably the surroundings or environment. Such outstanding changes are usually heat and work exchanges with the system under consideration. If the initial states cannot be restored in the manner outlined, the process under consideration is said to be irreversible.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Copyright information

© 1981 Desmond F. Moore

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Moore, D.F. (1981). Reversibility. In: Thermodynamic Principles of Energy Degrading. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-16583-4_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics