What is a thermodynamic variable?
What property do extensive variables have?
What property do intensive variables have?
Is the density of a extensive variable intensive/extensive?
What is a field?
List as many thermodynamic variables as you can, what symbols are used to represent these quantities and are they intensive or extensive?
Explain how two systems in contact reach an equilibrium
Measurable macroscopic quantities that are associated with a macroscopic system. Generally, these are quantities that can be easily measured or controlled in experiments.
If the value of a thermodynamic variable depends on the size of the system then it is said to be an extensive quantity. The values of extensive quantities depend on the number of atoms (mols) that are present in the system.
If the value of a thermodynamic variable does not depend on the size of the system then it is said to be an intensive quantity. The values of intensive quantities do not depend on the number of atoms (mols) that are present in the system. The density of an extensive variable (e.g. Number of atoms in a volume) is an intensive quantity. Quantities that are intrinsically intensive (i.e. not densities of extensive quantities) are also called fields.
List of thermodynamic variables
If two systems are placed in contact then the extensive quantities for one of the systems will increase while the extensive quantities for the other system will decrease until equilibrium is attained. Equilibrium is achieved when the values of all the intensive variables are equal in the two systems.
<aside> 📌 SUMMARY: Thermodynamic variables are measurable macroscopic quantities that can be easily measured in experiments. They are called extensive variables if their value depends on the number of atoms that are present and intensive if their value is independent of the number of atoms that are present.
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