Re: [Phys-l] T dS versus dQ

["Bob Sciamanda" <treborsci@verizon.net>]

Jack Uretsy asked:
> But why the emphasis on reversible processes when most interesting 
> processes in real life are irreversible?

Simply because if you want to follow a process from an initial to a final 
state in order to calculate the overall change in some function of state 
variables, you must follow a process during which the state variables are 
well defined, ie.; a succession of well defined equilibrium states, ie.; a 
reversible, quasistatic process.

Bob Sciamanda
Physics, Edinboro Univ of PA (Em)
treborsci@verizon.net
http://mysite.verizon.net/res12merh/