Physics II / The Zeroth Law and Thermodynamic Coefficients
Practice question · Match the pairs

Match each thermodynamic coefficient to what it measures.

  • Thermal expansivity
  • Isothermal compressibility
  • Pressure coefficient
  • Heat capacity
  • Fractional volume reduction per unit pressure at fixed temperature
  • Energy needed per unit temperature rise
  • Fractional volume change per unit temperature at fixed pressure
  • Fractional pressure change per unit temperature at fixed volume
Hints
  1. Each coefficient holds one variable fixed while varying another.
  2. Three are fractional response coefficients; one is an energy per degree.
Show the answer
  • Thermal expansivity Fractional volume change per unit temperature at fixed pressure
  • Isothermal compressibility Fractional volume reduction per unit pressure at fixed temperature
  • Pressure coefficient Fractional pressure change per unit temperature at fixed volume
  • Heat capacity Energy needed per unit temperature rise
Why

Each of the first three is a fractional response with one variable held fixed, and they are linked by α=κTβP\alpha = \kappa_T\beta P because any two of PP, VV, TT determine the third. Heat capacity is an energy per degree, not a fractional response.

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