Question

When a system ______, delta E is always negative

A) gives off heat and has work done on it
B) absorbs heat and has work done on it
C) absorbs heat and does work
D) Gives off heat and does work
E) None of the above is always negative

Answer 1

Delta E is negative when a system gives off heat and performs work on its surroundings, as both actions result in energy transfer out of the system, leading to a decrease in internal energy.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a system gives off heat and does work on its surroundings, delta E (change in internal energy) is always negative. This is because, by convention, both heat flow and work have a negative sign when energy is transferred from a system to its surroundings.

Therefore, if a system is releasing heat (d) and doing work (b), it means energy is being transferred out of the system, leading to a decrease in the system's internal energy. Specifically, when a system gives off heat (heat out of the system), it is represented by a negative q value.