Thermodynamics: Building Blocks

Study Guide

Terms and Formulae

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Terms and Formulae

Terms

Average Value

The Average Value of a Property A is the value expected if the measurement were taken on every system in the ensemble and averaged, and is written as < A >.
Closed System

A system that maintains a constant number of particles, constant energy, constant volume, and is free from any change in influences external to the system, such as an oscillating magnetic field.
Conventional

Conventional is a term applied to variables in common uses in the natural sciences and chemistry, but which in turn are defined in relation to their fundamental counterparts. We use the term to apply to T and S, the conventional temperature and entropy. Compare to fundamental.
Ensemble

A collection of isolated systems, all of which are identical to each other.
Entropy

Entropy, represented by σ, is a variable that describes the randomness of a system and is defined by σ(N, U)âÉálog g(N, U).
Fundamental

Fundamental is a term applied to a variable to indicate that it is naturally defined. We use the term to apply to σ and τ, the entropy and temperature. Compare to conventional.
Fundamental Assumption

The Fundamental Assumption states that any closed system has an equal probability to be in any of its possible quantum states.
Laws of Thermodynamics

The 4 Laws of Thermodynamics are postulates upon which the study of thermodynamics historically rested. They exist in numerous formulations that at times appear unrelated to each other, but can be better understood from a statistical approach.
Multiplicity Function

The Multiplicity Function g(N, U) yields the number of states with the same values of N and U.
State

The minimal collection of information about a system that is maximally informative.
Temperature

Temperature, represented by τ, is a variable that describes the thermal agitation of a system and is defined by = .

Formulae

P(s) =

< A > =

A(s)P(s)

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