ME 233

BASIC THERMODYNAMICS
LEC 2
PROPERTIES AND STATE OF A SUBSTANCE
COVERAGE
01 Properties vs State

02 Extensive and Intensive Properties

02 State and Equilibrium

Property vs State

Property State
Macroscopic
The condition of a
characteristic of a
system as described
system such as mass,
by its properties.
volume, energy,
pressure, and
temperature.
Extensive and Intensive Properties
A property is called Intensive properties are
extensive if its value for an those that are independent of
overall system is the sum of the mass of a system.
its values for the parts into
which the system is divided.
Depend on size and or Independent on size
extent and or extent

Changes with time Changes with position

and time
 TEMPERATURE

VOLUME
PRESSURE

ENERGY
MASS

DENSITY
Intensive Properties:
❑Density and specific gravity
❑Temperature
❑Pressure
1. Density and specific gravity
Density (𝝆) is defined as mass per unit volume. The 𝒎 𝒌𝒈
density of most gases is proportional to pressure and 𝝆= ,
𝑽 𝒎𝟑
inversely proportional to temperature. Liquids and
solids, on the other hand, are essentially incompressible
substances.
𝑽 𝟏 𝒎𝟑
Specific volume (ʋ) is the reciprocal of density. ʋ= = ,
𝒎 𝝆 𝒌𝒈

Specific gravity (SG) or relative density is defined as

the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of 𝝆
SG =
some standard substance at a specified temperature 𝝆𝒘
(usually water at 4°C, for which 𝝆 = 1000 kg/m3).
𝑵
Specific weight (γ) is the weight of a unit volume of γ= 𝝆𝒈,
𝒎𝟑
a substance.
Specific gravities of some substances
2. Temperature

By replacing the third body with a thermometer, the zeroth law can be
restated as two bodies are in thermal equilibrium if both have the same
temperature reading even if they are not in contact
Absolute Temperature
Absolute Temperature is the temperature measured
from absolute zero.

Absolute zero is the temperature at which molecules

stop moving
 TEMPERATURE SCALES
Celsius
scale
The temperature scales in SI and English
Fahrenheit systems, respectively
scale

Kelvin scale The thermodynamic temperature scales in SI

and English systems, respectively
Rankine
scale
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SYSTEM OF TEMPERATURE
MEASUREMENTS

T(°F) = 1.8 T (°C) + 32

T(K) = T (°C) + 273.15

T(R) = 1.8 T (K)

T(R) = T(°F) + 459.67

∆T (K) = ∆T (°C)
Temperature
∆T (R) = ∆T (°F) interval
3. Pressure
Pressure is defined as a normal force exerted by a fluid per unit area. We
speak of pressure only when we deal with a gas or a liquid. The counterpart
of pressure in solids is normal stress.
 Pressure Measurement
Absolute pressure is the pressure measured
above a perfect vacuum. Pabs

Gage pressure is the pressure measured from

the level of atmospheric pressure by most
pressure recording instrument like pressure Pgage = Pabs - Patm
gage and open-ended manometer.

Atmospheric pressure is the pressure obtained

Patm
from barometer reading.

Vacuum pressure is the difference between the Pvac = Patm - Pabs

atmospheric pressure and absolute pressure.
Pliquid = Pgage = ρgh
Manometer

P1 = P2 = Patm + ρgh
Barometer

Patm = ρgh
STATE AND EQUILIBRIUM

STATE POSTULATE:
The state of a simple
compressible system is
completely specified by two
independent, intensive
properties.
STATE AND EQUILIBRIUM

The word equilibrium

implies a state of
balance. A system in
equilibrium
experiences no
changes when it is
isolated from its
surroundings.
NEXT TOPIC: Calculations
Involving Density, Specific
Gravity, Temperature and
Pressure