NONEQUILIBRIUM THERMODYNAMICS
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE
EXAMINATION QUESTION AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which quantity measures the degree of irreversibility in a process?
A. Internal energy
B. Enthalpy
C. Entropy production
D. Helmholtz free energy
Answer: C
Rationale: Entropy production quantifies irreversibility in nonequilibrium
processes.
2. Nonequilibrium thermodynamics primarily deals with systems that are
A. Isolated
B. In global equilibrium
C. Far from equilibrium
D. At absolute zero
Answer: C
Rationale: The field studies systems not in equilibrium, often far from it.
3. The local equilibrium assumption states that
A. The system is always in equilibrium
B. Equilibrium thermodynamics applies locally
, C. Entropy is constant
D. Fluxes vanish
Answer: B
Rationale: Local equilibrium allows defining thermodynamic variables at
each point.
4. Entropy production is always
A. Negative
B. Zero
C. Positive or zero
D. Undefined
Answer: C
Rationale: The second law requires non-negative entropy production.
5. Which law governs nonequilibrium thermodynamics?
A. Zeroth law
B. First law
C. Second law
D. Third law
Answer: C
Rationale: The second law constrains irreversible processes.
6. Thermodynamic fluxes are driven by
A. Forces
B. Energies
C. Potentials
D. Temperatures alone
Answer: A
Rationale: Fluxes arise due to thermodynamic forces such as gradients.
7. A temperature gradient produces
A. Mass diffusion
B. Chemical reaction
C. Heat flux
D. Electrical current
, Answer: C
Rationale: Heat flows due to temperature gradients.
8. Onsager reciprocal relations apply near
A. Absolute zero
B. Global equilibrium
C. Steady state far from equilibrium
D. Phase transitions
Answer: B
Rationale: They are valid close to equilibrium.
9. Onsager coefficients are
A. Always zero
B. Antisymmetric
C. Symmetric
D. Complex
Answer: C
Rationale: Reciprocity implies symmetry of cross-coefficients.
10.Linear nonequilibrium thermodynamics assumes
A. Large gradients
B. Linear flux–force relations
C. No entropy production
D. Time-independent states
Answer: B
Rationale: Fluxes are linear in forces near equilibrium.
11.Heat conduction is described by
A. Fick’s law
B. Fourier’s law
C. Ohm’s law
D. Newton’s law
Answer: B
Rationale: Fourier’s law relates heat flux to temperature gradient.
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE
EXAMINATION QUESTION AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which quantity measures the degree of irreversibility in a process?
A. Internal energy
B. Enthalpy
C. Entropy production
D. Helmholtz free energy
Answer: C
Rationale: Entropy production quantifies irreversibility in nonequilibrium
processes.
2. Nonequilibrium thermodynamics primarily deals with systems that are
A. Isolated
B. In global equilibrium
C. Far from equilibrium
D. At absolute zero
Answer: C
Rationale: The field studies systems not in equilibrium, often far from it.
3. The local equilibrium assumption states that
A. The system is always in equilibrium
B. Equilibrium thermodynamics applies locally
, C. Entropy is constant
D. Fluxes vanish
Answer: B
Rationale: Local equilibrium allows defining thermodynamic variables at
each point.
4. Entropy production is always
A. Negative
B. Zero
C. Positive or zero
D. Undefined
Answer: C
Rationale: The second law requires non-negative entropy production.
5. Which law governs nonequilibrium thermodynamics?
A. Zeroth law
B. First law
C. Second law
D. Third law
Answer: C
Rationale: The second law constrains irreversible processes.
6. Thermodynamic fluxes are driven by
A. Forces
B. Energies
C. Potentials
D. Temperatures alone
Answer: A
Rationale: Fluxes arise due to thermodynamic forces such as gradients.
7. A temperature gradient produces
A. Mass diffusion
B. Chemical reaction
C. Heat flux
D. Electrical current
, Answer: C
Rationale: Heat flows due to temperature gradients.
8. Onsager reciprocal relations apply near
A. Absolute zero
B. Global equilibrium
C. Steady state far from equilibrium
D. Phase transitions
Answer: B
Rationale: They are valid close to equilibrium.
9. Onsager coefficients are
A. Always zero
B. Antisymmetric
C. Symmetric
D. Complex
Answer: C
Rationale: Reciprocity implies symmetry of cross-coefficients.
10.Linear nonequilibrium thermodynamics assumes
A. Large gradients
B. Linear flux–force relations
C. No entropy production
D. Time-independent states
Answer: B
Rationale: Fluxes are linear in forces near equilibrium.
11.Heat conduction is described by
A. Fick’s law
B. Fourier’s law
C. Ohm’s law
D. Newton’s law
Answer: B
Rationale: Fourier’s law relates heat flux to temperature gradient.
