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Thermodynamic, intensive, extensive, specific property

Short answer

A thermodynamic property depends only on state. Intensive properties (e.g., pressure, temperature, density) are mass‑independent; extensive properties (e.g., volume, internal energy) depend on mass. Specific properties are extensive per unit mass, e.g., specific volume v = V/m, and become intensive.

Define thermodynamic property. Define intensive, extensive and specific property. Give examples for each.

Thermodynamic property

A thermodynamic property is a measurable macroscopic characteristic of a system whose value depends only on the state of the system and not on the path by which the state is reached. Its change is the difference of end-state values.

Intensive property

Independent of the mass (size) of the system; it does not change if the system is subdivided. Examples: pressure, temperature, density, specific volume.

Extensive property

Depends on the mass (size) of the system; it is additive over parts of the system. Examples: mass, volume, total internal energy, enthalpy, entropy.

Specific property

An extensive property divided by the mass of the system. It is intensive in nature.

  • Specific volume v = V/m (m³/kg)
  • Specific internal energy u = U/m (kJ/kg)
  • Specific enthalpy h = H/m (kJ/kg)
  • Specific entropy s = S/m (kJ/kg·K)

Example: 2 kg of air occupying 1.6 m³ has V = 1.6 m³ (extensive), v = 0.8 m³/kg (specific, intensive). If half is removed, V becomes 0.8 m³ but v remains 0.8 m³/kg.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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