Short Answer
Intensive and extensive properties are two types of thermodynamic properties used to describe a system. Intensive properties are independent of the system’s mass, meaning they remain the same regardless of system size. Examples include temperature, pressure, and density.
Extensive properties depend on the amount of matter in the system, meaning they change with the system’s size. Examples include mass, volume, and energy. These properties help in analyzing and understanding the behavior of thermodynamic systems in engineering applications.
Detailed Explanation
Intensive and Extensive Properties of a System
In thermodynamics, system properties are classified into intensive and extensive based on their dependency on the system’s size.
- Intensive Properties
Intensive properties do not depend on the mass or size of the system. These properties remain constant regardless of how much substance is present.
Characteristics of Intensive Properties:
- Independent of system size.
- Remains unchanged when a system is divided.
- Used to describe the condition or state of a system.
Examples:
- Temperature (T) – Does not change with system size.
- Pressure (P) – Remains the same throughout the system at equilibrium.
- Density (ρ) – Mass per unit volume remains constant in uniform materials.
- Extensive Properties
Extensive properties depend on the amount of matter in the system. These properties increase or decrease when the system size changes.
Characteristics of Extensive Properties:
- Directly proportional to system mass.
- Change when a system is divided or combined.
- Used to measure total system capacity.
Examples:
- Mass (m) – Total quantity of matter in the system.
- Volume (V) – Total space occupied by the system.
- Energy (E) – Total internal or thermal energy of the system.
Conclusion
Intensive properties remain constant and independent of mass, while extensive properties depend on the system’s size and change accordingly. Understanding these properties is important in thermodynamics and mechanical engineering for analyzing heat transfer, energy conservation, and system behavior.