Helmholtz Free Energy - Mathematical Development

Mathematical Development

From the first law of thermodynamics we have

,

where is the internal energy, is the energy added by heating and is the work done by the system. From the second law of thermodynamics, for a reversible process we may say that . Also, in case of a reversible change, the work done can be expressed as

Applying the product rule for differentiation to d(TS) = TdS + SdT, we have:

,

and:

The definition of A = U - TS enables to rewrite this as

This relation is also valid for a process that is not reversible because A is a thermodynamic function of state.

Read more about this topic:  Helmholtz Free Energy

Famous quotes containing the words mathematical and/or development:

    What he loved so much in the plant morphological structure of the tree was that given a fixed mathematical basis, the final evolution was so incalculable.
    —D.H. (David Herbert)

    Theories of child development and guidelines for parents are not cast in stone. They are constantly changing and adapting to new information and new pressures. There is no “right” way, just as there are no magic incantations that will always painlessly resolve a child’s problems.
    Lawrence Kutner (20th century)