Classical thermodynamics, heat transfer Thermodynamic potentials and relations Concept
Helmholtz free energy
Summary
The Helmholtz free energy of a system is its internal energy minus the product of its temperature and entropy. It is the thermodynamic potential whose natural variables are temperature and volume. At fixed temperature and volume it is minimal in equilibrium, and in an isothermal process its decrease bounds the work that the system can do. In statistical mechanics it is times the logarithm of the canonical partition function.
Where this leads
12 pages build on this one.
- Jarzynski equality
- Bridgman's thermodynamic equations
- Ehrenfest equations
- Maxwell equal-area construction
- Thermodynamic square
- Le Chatelier's principle
- Ruppeiner geometry
- Crooks fluctuation theorem
- Maxwell relations
- Legendre transformation of thermodynamic potentials
- Grand potential
- Thermodynamic stability conditions
Further reading
About this page
| Tag | JXKY6C8JTA |
|---|---|
| URI | m2://JXKY6C8JTA |
| Kind | concept |
| Writing | W0 stub |
| MSC | 80A10, 80A05 |
| Specializes | Thermodynamic potential |
| Same as | |
| Changed | 3 November 2026 |
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Used by
- Jarzynski equality
- Maxwell equal-area construction
- Thermodynamic square
- Crooks fluctuation theorem
- Maxwell relations
- Legendre transformation of thermodynamic potentials
- Grand potential
- Thermodynamic stability conditions