Here are some real-world examples for different types of thermodynamic processes:

1. Isothermal Process (constant temperature)

• Melting ice in a drink: The temperature of the ice-water mixture stays roughly constant while the ice melts, absorbing heat but not changing temperature.
• Slow compression or expansion of a gas in a piston immersed in a thermal bath: The gas temperature remains constant because heat exchange balances work done.

2. Adiabatic Process (no heat exchange)

• Rapid compression of air in a bicycle pump: The air heats up quickly as it’s compressed, but heat doesn’t have time to flow out.
• Expansion of gases in a rocket nozzle: Gas expands rapidly, cooling without heat exchange to the surroundings.
• Rising air parcel in the atmosphere: As air rises, it expands and cools without exchanging heat with the environment.

3. Isobaric Process (constant pressure)

• Boiling water at atmospheric pressure: Water absorbs heat and changes phase at constant pressure.
• Heating air in an open container: The air volume increases as temperature increases, but pressure remains atmospheric.

4. Isochoric Process (constant volume)

• Heating gas in a sealed rigid container: Temperature and pressure rise, but volume stays fixed.
• Heating a sealed pressure cooker before it releases steam: Volume remains fixed until pressure release.

5. Phase changes

• Evaporation of water: Liquid to vapor phase change at constant temperature and pressure.
• Condensation in a steam engine: Steam condenses back to water, releasing heat.

6. Real-life combined processes

• Internal combustion engines: The cycle includes adiabatic compression and expansion, isochoric heat addition, and isobaric exhaust.
• Refrigerators and air conditioners: Cycles involving compression (adiabatic), condensation (isobaric), expansion (adiabatic), and evaporation (isobaric).