Question

An insulated piston-cylinder device contains. What is the primary purpose of insulation in this device?

A) To prevent heat transfer
B) To enhance heat transfer
C) To maintain pressure
D) To increase friction

Answer 1

Insulation in a piston-cylinder device is used to prevent heat transfer, thus maintaining the desired thermodynamic conditions by limiting changes in internal energy, pressure, and temperature of the gas within the device.

Step-by-step explanation:

The primary purpose of insulation in a piston-cylinder device is to prevent heat transfer. This insulating material ensures that the internal energies of the gases inside the cylinder are not lost to or gained from the outside environment, maintaining the desired temperature and pressure conditions for the experiment or process being conducted. In thermodynamics, heat transfer can increase the internal energy of a gas, affecting its pressure and temperature, a principle that is crucial in understanding the workings of heat engines and similar systems.