Which of the following are state functions, and which are not? (a) The temperature of an ice cube (b) The volume of an aerosol can (c) The amount of time required for Paula Radcliffe to run her world-record marathon: 2:15:25

Video transcript

Hello everyone today. We have the following problem, identify which of the following or identify among the given below is a state function in which is not. So we have a the amount of work done to compress the gas. So before we analyze these, we need to define what a state function is. So a state function simply put is a process that is independent of the path taken. So it's a process that is independent of the path taken. The path taken from where from one state to another examples of these. So examples, it could be things such as mass or volume could even be temperature, pressure, gives free energy and the list goes on. So let's analyze these A says the amount of work done to compress a gas. Well work simply put just depends on the change in the volume of a gas. So it does depend on it. So work depends on a change in the volume of a gas. And so it does depend. So work or a simply put is not a state function because it depends if there's a change in the volume. B says the pressure inside a scuba tank. Well, we did list pressure as an example. So we can say that pressure is a state function because it does not depend on the path taken necessarily. So this is going to be a state function, it is its own thing, the pressure can increase or decrease. However, there is nothing that depends on the pressure changing. And then lastly we have see the mass of a standard gold bar 12. kg. Once again, as we said before, mass is not a state is a state function, and that is because changing the mass does not change anything else essentially. So if we were to increase the mass of the gold bar, we would just have a heavier gold bar. If we were to change the pressure of some of the gas inside of a balloon, we would just have more pressure inside the balloon. However, work is a fun work is a function that involves volume and pressure, so if one changes, it does change the work. And so therefore these are going to be our answers, not a state function, state function and then state function overall. I do hope this helped, and until next time.