Homework Help Overview
The discussion revolves around demonstrating a relationship in thermodynamics related to Maxwell's relations, specifically the equality of certain partial derivatives involving temperature, pressure, and entropy. The context is rooted in the study of internal energy as a function of entropy and volume.
Discussion Character
- Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking
Approaches and Questions Raised
- Participants explore the relationship between the partial derivatives of temperature and pressure, questioning the validity of the Schwartz relation and the continuity of internal energy. There are attempts to manipulate equations to demonstrate the equality of these derivatives.
Discussion Status
Participants are actively engaging with the problem, with some providing insights on the commutativity of second partial derivatives. There is a focus on the need to justify assumptions about the continuity of internal energy, with some suggesting that experimental evidence may serve as a form of proof.
Contextual Notes
There is an ongoing discussion about the necessity of justifying the assumption that internal energy is a continuous function, particularly in the context of an exam setting. The participants express uncertainty about how to formally prove this continuity without relying on established knowledge.