Measured Thermodynamic
Properties and
Other Basic Concepts
The Buddha, the Godhead, resides quite as comfortably in the circuits of a digital
computer or the gears of a cycle transmission as he does on the top of a m
...
Measured Thermodynamic
Properties and
Other Basic Concepts
The Buddha, the Godhead, resides quite as comfortably in the circuits of a digital
computer or the gears of a cycle transmission as he does on the top of a mountain or
the petal of a flower. To think otherwise would be to demean the Buddha—which is to
demean oneself. This is what I want to talk about in this Chautauqua.
–Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Robert M. Pirsig
Learning Objectives
To demonstrate mastery of the material in Chapter 1, you should be able to:
► Define the following terms in your own words:
• Universe, system, surroundings, and boundary
• Open system, closed system, and isolated system
• Thermodynamic property, extensive and intensive properties
• Thermodynamic state, state and path functions
• Thermodynamic process; adiabatic, isothermal, isobaric, and isochoric
processes
• Phase and phase equilibrium
• Macroscopic, microscopic, and molecular-length scales
• Equilibrium and steady-state
Ultimately, you need to be able to apply these concepts to formulate and
solve engineering problems.
► Relate the measured thermodynamic properties of temperature and pressure
to molecular behavior. Describe phase and chemical reaction equilibrium in
terms of dynamic molecular processes.
► Apply the state postulate and the phase rule to determine the appropriate
independent properties to constrain the state of a system that contains a
pure species.
► Given two properties, identify the phases present on a PT or a Pv phase
diagram, including solid, subcooled liquid, saturated liquid, saturated vapor,
and superheated vapor and two-phase regions. Identify the critical point and
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