Answer to Question #303177 in Molecular Physics | Thermodynamics for Dhanush

Question

What do you understand by intensive and extensive variables of a system? state with reasons which of following variables are intensive and which are extensive ? (i) Number of gas molecules enclosed in a box (ii) density of a gas in a box (iii) wavelength of radiation emitted by a black body at temperature T(iv) intensity of radiation emitted by a black body at temperature T

Answer 1

Intensive variables of a system are those that do not depend on the size of system for example that are temperature, concentration, pressure, mole fraction, colour, density, specific heat capacity, mass fraction.

Extensive variables of a system are those that do depend on the size of system and it may vary when the amount of matter present in the system may vary for example mass, volume, internal energy, heat capacity, entropy

Intensive variables are

(ii) Density of a gas in a box

(iii)Wavelength of a radiation emitted by a black body at temperature T

(iv) Intensity of a radiation emitted by a black body at temperature T

Extensive variables are

Number of gas molecules enclosed in a box