Physics II / Thermodynamic Potentials and Maxwell Relations
Practice question · Numerical answer

A system at 300 K has internal energy 2000 J and entropy 4.0 J/K. Compute its Helmholtz free energy in J.

Hints
  1. Helmholtz energy is internal energy minus temperature times entropy.
  2. Compute 2000 - 300 x 4.0.
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800 (answers within ±10 count)

Why

F=UTS=20001200=800F = U - TS = 2000 - 1200 = 800 J. Of the 2000 J stored, only 800 J is extractable as work at this temperature, the remaining 1200 J must be paid to the surroundings as heat.

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