Why adiabatic is steeper than isotherm?

Answer 1

An adiabatic curve is steeper than an isothermal curve because it represents a process where no heat is exchanged with the surroundings, leading to a more significant change in pressure and temperature for a given volume change. In contrast, an isothermal process occurs at constant temperature, so the system can absorb heat to maintain that temperature, resulting in a more gradual slope on a pressure-volume diagram. Essentially, the lack of heat exchange in an adiabatic process restricts the system's ability to adjust temperature, causing a steeper relationship between pressure and volume changes.