Master the Mechanics: NCEA Level 3 Physics 2026 – Get Ready to Rock Your Exam!

The process that occurs at constant volume is known as isochoric. In an isochoric process, the volume of the system does not change, which means that any heat added to the system increases its internal energy and typically raises the temperature, as there is no work done on or by the system due to volume changes. This characteristic makes isochoric processes distinct from others where the volume can vary, such as isobaric (constant pressure) or isothermal (constant temperature) processes. In an isochoric process, since the volume remains constant, the work done by the system is zero, and therefore, the heat transfer directly affects the internal energy of the substance without any volume-related work being performed.