What is the difference between open, closed, and isolated systems?
The behavior of a system can be described, at least in part, in terms of its interactions with its environment. In an open system, matter and energy can flow freely between the system and its environment [2]. The ice cube floating in the glass of water is an open system — both energy and matter can flow freely between the ice cube and the surrounding water, which enables the ice cube to melt. In a closed system, only energy can flow freely between the system and its environment. The Earth is often viewed as a closed system. Energy from the sun reaches the Earth’s surface, and the Earth radiates much of its heat into space. But, the atmosphere and material on the Earth’s surface is held in place by the Earth’s gravity. It does not flow freely into space (thank goodness!). In an isolated system, neither energy nor matter flow freely between the system and its environment. Perfectly isolated systems do not really exist in nature, but we frequently depend upon devices that approximate iso
