Chemistry - thermodynamic system

Question

Explain how a wetsuit, dry suit, and space suit differ. Which would be a good example of a closed system? open system? Isolated system?

Answer 1

Hello, Teresa,

I would say:

1. Space Suit is the closed system. It is designed to maintain temperature and pressure and, hopefully, volume. [One of the first Russian cosmonauts had problems returning to his ship after a space walk led to his suit expanding to the point he had difficulty getting back through the entrance.
2. Wet Suit is an open system. It is designed to trap water between the suit and the body so that it warms to body temperature and remains there. It uses the water for insulation.
3. Dry suit is an isolated system. It keeps water away from the body, unlike the wet suit. It makes a better insulator than the wet suit.

Bob