Thermodynamics Terms Chapter 1

equilibrium

a condition of balance maintained by an equality of opposing forces and of other influences. there are multiple types: mechanical, thermal, phase, chemical

property

a macroscopic characteristic of a system such as mass, volume, energy, pressure, and temperature to which a numerical value can be assigned at a given time without knowledge of the previous behavior of the system. is path INDEPENDENT. they are either extensive or intensive.

extensive property

a property that depends on system size. EX: mass, volume, energy

intensive property

a property that is independent of system size. EX: density, temperature, pressure, specific volume.

property requirements

a quantity is a property if, and only if, its change in value between two states is independent of the process.

control volume (aka open system)

a region in space through which mass flows. exchanges mass, heat, and work with surroundings.

isolated system

a special type of closed system that does not interact in any way with its surroundings.

process

a transformation from one state to another

surroundings

everything external to the system

boundary

is what distinguishes a system from its surroundings

state

refers to the condition of a system as described by its properties.

pressure

the limit of Normal force divided by area as area approaches a desired area

specific volume

volume divided by mass; is also the reciprocal of density

system

whatever thing we want to study

closed system (aka control mass)

when a particular quantity of matter is under study. there can be no mass transfer. there can be heat and work interactions with surroundings.

steady state

when none of a system's properties changes with time.

equilibrium state

when we isolate a system from its surroundings and observe that there is no changes in it's observable quantities it is in an ___________