Imagine that you are climbing a mountain. Which of the following are state functions? a. The distance you walk during your climb to the top

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Understand the concept of state functions: State functions are properties that depend only on the current state of the system, not on the path taken to reach that state.

Identify examples of state functions: Common state functions include properties like temperature, pressure, volume, and internal energy.

Consider the property in question: The distance walked during a climb is a path-dependent property, as it depends on the specific route taken to reach the top.

Compare with state functions: Since the distance walked depends on the path, it is not a state function.

Conclude: The distance walked during the climb is not a state function because it is path-dependent.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

State Functions

State functions are properties of a system that depend only on the current state of the system, not on the path taken to reach that state. Examples include internal energy, enthalpy, and entropy. In thermodynamics, state functions are crucial for understanding how energy and matter behave in different conditions.

Path Functions

Path functions are properties that depend on the specific path taken to reach a particular state. Examples include work and heat, which vary based on the process used to change the state of a system. Understanding the distinction between state and path functions is essential for analyzing thermodynamic processes.

Thermodynamic Processes

Thermodynamic processes describe the changes in a system's state due to energy transfer, such as heating or doing work. These processes can be classified as isothermal, adiabatic, isobaric, or isochoric, depending on the conditions maintained. Recognizing the type of process helps in determining which properties are state functions and which are path functions.

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A gas is confined to a cylinder fitted with a piston and an electrical heater, as shown here:

Suppose that current is supplied to the heater so that 100 J of energy is added. Consider two different situations. In case (1) the piston is allowed to move as the energy is added. In case (2) the piston is fixed so that it cannot move. (a) In which case does the gas have the higher temperature after addition of the electrical energy?

Textbook Question

A gas is confined to a cylinder fitted with a piston and an electrical heater, as shown here:

Suppose that current is supplied to the heater so that 100 J of energy is added. Consider two different situations. In case (1) the piston is allowed to move as the energy is added. In case (2) the piston is fixed so that it cannot move. (b) Identify the sign (positive, negative, or zero) of q and w in each case?

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Consider a system consisting of two oppositely charged spheres hanging by strings and separated by a distance r1, as shown in the accompanying illustration. Suppose they are separated to a larger distance r2, by moving them apart. (a) What change, if any, has occurred in the potential energy of the system?

Textbook Question

Imagine that you are climbing a mountain. Which of the following are state functions? b. The change in elevation during the climb

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