Final answer:
A cyclic process is when a system undergoes a series of thermodynamic changes and returns to its initial state, with its state properties unchanged over the cycle. It is a critical concept in thermodynamics, particularly in the operation of heat engines.
Step-by-step explanation:
A cyclic process in thermodynamics is one where the system returns to its initial state after completing a series of steps, with its state properties like temperature, pressure, volume, and internal energy remaining unchanged over the entire cycle. During a cyclic process, the system may undergo different thermodynamic processes such as isothermal, adiabatic, isobaric, and isochoric processes. An example of a system going through a cyclic process is the gas in a cylinder with a piston, which can be part of a heat engine. All heat engines use cyclical processes to convert heat energy into work. Understanding how these processes interact within the cycle is critical for thermodynamic analysis and calculations, such as determining the net work done over a cycle.