PHY 365: Thermal Physics

Homework: Extensive vs Intensive

1. In thermodynamics, an intensive property is a physical property of a
system that does not depend on the system size of the amount of ma-
terial in the system. In other words, it is scale invariant. For instance,
the density is an intensive property because it does not depend on the
amount of that substance.
In contrast, an extensive property (also called extensive quantity) is one
that is directly proportional to the amount of material in the system.
For instance the mass is an extensive property.
Classify the following properties according to their character (inten-
sive/extensive).
temperature
coecient of thermal expansion
heat capacity
specic heat capacity
internal energy
enthalpy
melting point
number of particles
pressure
volume
entropy
number of moles
compressibility
work
heat
2. If you are unsure of the character of a property you can use an equation
involving the property and use the following multiplication table to
gure it out.
Intensive Extensive
Intensive Intensive Extensive
Extensive Extensive (Extensive)
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For instance, since the mass is given by M = V , and mass is an
extensive quantity but the density is intensive, then the volume must
be an extensive quantity. Note that fundamental constants, such as
, c, are also intensive since they dont depend on the amount of that
substance.
Find ve thermodynamic equations from chapter one and check that
for each equation, the right hand side and left hand side are congruent.
3. Use the Sackur-Tetrode equation to estimate the entropy of a mole of
Neon gas at room temperature and ambient pressure.
4. According to the Sackur-Tetrode equation, the entropy of a monoatomic
gas can become negative when its temperature is suciently low. Of
course this is absurd so the Sackur-Tetrode equation must be invalid
at very low temperatures. Einstein gured out what was wrong and x
it. It turns out the wave nature of the particles become important at
low temperature (Ahhh, quantum mechanics!!!). We will address this
later in the semester. In the meantime, assume that you start with a
sample of helium at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, the
lower the temperature holding the density xed. Ignore the fact that
helium would eventually liquefy, and pretend it remains a gas. Find
the temperature below which the Sackur-Tetrode relation predicts that
the entropy is negative?
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