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State Versus Path Functions

Thermodynamics: State versus Path Functions This document discusses the differences between state functions and path functions in thermodynamics. [1] A state function only depends on the initial and final states of a system, not the path taken between those states. [2] Examples of state functions include changes in temperature, pressure, volume, and internal energy. [3] In contrast, a path function depends on the specific path or process taken between the initial and final states, such as the work or heat transferred during a process.

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Rohan Rana
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851 views10 pages

State Versus Path Functions

Thermodynamics: State versus Path Functions This document discusses the differences between state functions and path functions in thermodynamics. [1] A state function only depends on the initial and final states of a system, not the path taken between those states. [2] Examples of state functions include changes in temperature, pressure, volume, and internal energy. [3] In contrast, a path function depends on the specific path or process taken between the initial and final states, such as the work or heat transferred during a process.

Uploaded by

Rohan Rana
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Thermodynamics:

State versus Path Functions


By Shawn P. Shields, Ph.D.

This work is licensed by Shawn P. Shields-Maxwell under a


Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
Overview

When we talk about a given system, we say


it is in a particular “thermodynamic
state.”

A particular thermodynamic state is


characterized by a few “macroscopic
observables,” such as
Pressure, temperature, volume, color,
altitude, etc.
Differences (Changes) in Macroscopic
Observables

Changes in Pressure (P), Volume (V), and


Temperature (T):

What can we say about all of these?


It doesn’t matter how the system
arrived at the final state from the
initial state, the difference (or
change) is the same.
A Thermodynamic “State Function”

State Functions only depend on the current


(thermodynamic) state of the system.
How the system attained that state does not
matter!
Example: Compression of a gas inside a
piston.
Vi Vf
A Thermodynamic “State Function”
A State Function is
defined as a
property of a system
Tf Tf that only depends
on the initial and
T T final state of the
T
system,
T
and is independent of
the path followed in
getting from one to
Ti Ti the other.
Examples of State Functions

U is a state function.

Some other state functions…

H (Enthalpy, coming soon…)

P T V

Altitude Mass

chemical composition
Path Functions

A path function
does depend on
the path followed
in getting from
the initial to the
final state.

"Path near Clonmass Bay - geograph.org.uk - 899872" by Ross - From geograph.org.uk. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0
via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Path_near_Clonmass_Bay_-_geograph.org.uk_-
_899872.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Path_near_Clonmass_Bay_-_geograph.org.uk_-_899872.jpg
Path Functions
Work (w) and heat (q) are path
functions.

Two rock climbers of equal mass


scale the same cliff. One climbs
straight up while the other
backslides numerous times on the
way up…
who did more work?
Cliffs along the Atlantic coastline of County Mayo, near
Ballycastle, Ireland by Phil Armitage (public domain)
What You Should Be Able to Do (so
far)
Define a state function

Recognize state functions from


examples given.

Define a path function.

Recognize examples of path


functions.
What You Should Be Able to Do (so
far)
Define a state function

Recognize state functions from


examples given.

Define a path function.

Recognize examples of path


functions.

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