What happens to temperature during an adiabatic compression process?

During an adiabatic compression process, the temperature increases. This occurs because the gas is compressed without heat exchange with the environment; all the work done on the gas is converted into internal energy, which raises the temperature.

In an adiabatic process, when a gas is compressed, the molecules are forced closer together, resulting in an increase in kinetic energy as the gas particles collide more frequently. The principle behind this is based on the first law of thermodynamics, which states that the change in internal energy of the gas (which is manifested as a change in temperature) is equal to the work done on the system since no heat is exchanged. Therefore, as work is done on the gas, its energy increases, leading to a rise in temperature.

This concept is fundamental in thermodynamics and critical for understanding various engineering applications, such as internal combustion engines and refrigeration cycles, where temperature control and energy transfer processes are vital.