Isothermal and Adiabatic Processes

In classical thermodynamics, an isothermal process occurs at a constant temperature, meaning heat is exchanged with the surroundings to keep the temperature stable while the system expands or contracts. An adiabatic process, on the other hand, happens without any heat exchange with the surroundings; the system is insulated, so any temperature change is due to pressure changes within the system itself. In essence, isothermal processes regulate temperature through heat transfer, while adiabatic processes rely solely on the work being done on or by the system, leading to changes in temperature without heat flow.