Classical thermodynamics, heat transfer Basic notions of thermodynamics Concept
State function
Summary
A state function is a quantity whose value depends only on the current equilibrium state of a system, not on how the system reached it. Pressure, volume, temperature, internal energy and entropy are state functions. The change of a state function in a process depends only on the initial and final states. This makes state functions the main bookkeeping tools of thermodynamics.
Where this leads
24 pages build on this one.
- Heat engine
- Bridgman's thermodynamic equations
- Fundamental thermodynamic relation
- Entropy
- Gibbs–Duhem equation
- Gibbs free energy
- Intensive and extensive properties
- Henry's law
- Local thermodynamic equilibrium
- Euler relation for internal energy
- Perpetual motion
- Helmholtz free energy
- Ehrenfest equations
- Equation of state
- Thermodynamic square
- Maxwell relations
- Process function
- Contact geometry of thermodynamics
- Internal energy
- Coefficient of performance
- Thermodynamic potential
- First law of thermodynamics
- Enthalpy
- Thermodynamic cycle
Further reading
About this page
| Tag | T8J5XRYBZZ |
|---|---|
| URI | m2://T8J5XRYBZZ |
| Kind | concept |
| Writing | W0 stub |
| MSC | 80A05, 80A10 |
| Same as | |
| Changed | 3 November 2026 |
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Used by
- Entropy
- Gibbs free energy
- Intensive and extensive properties
- Helmholtz free energy
- Equation of state
- Process function
- Internal energy
- Thermodynamic potential
- First law of thermodynamics
- Enthalpy
- Thermodynamic cycle