The difference between the entropy and the heat capacity? they are very similar

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship and differences between entropy and heat capacity, exploring their definitions, units, and potential connections. Participants engage in theoretical reasoning and mathematical derivations related to thermodynamics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that both specific heat capacity and entropy share the same units (joules per kelvin), leading to confusion about their relationship.
  • One participant argues that heat capacity is defined in terms of entropy as C_X = T(∂S/∂T)_X, suggesting a connection between the two concepts.
  • Another participant emphasizes that manipulating equations does not clarify the concept of entropy, stating that engineering thermodynamics education often lacks depth in explaining entropy and temperature.
  • There are claims that entropy is often confused with enthalpy, with one participant asserting that entropy is a more subtle concept related to the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
  • Some participants challenge the derivations presented, arguing that the equations used do not hold under scrutiny, particularly regarding the integration of heat transfer equations.
  • One participant suggests that entropy can be viewed as a disorder parameter or the capacity to store energy, but acknowledges that this is a personal interpretation.
  • There are discussions about the proper treatment of differentials in thermodynamic equations, with some participants questioning the validity of certain mathematical steps taken in the derivations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views, with no clear consensus on the relationship between entropy and heat capacity. Disagreements arise over the validity of mathematical derivations and the definitions of terms, particularly regarding entropy and enthalpy.

Contextual Notes

Some participants point out limitations in the derivations presented, such as the need for consistent units and the treatment of differentials in thermodynamic equations. There is also a mention of the importance of understanding the context in which heat capacity is defined.

su214
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the difference between the entropy and the heat capacity? they are very similar!

hello ...
as we all know that
specific heat capacity = joule/ k
entropy = joule/k
they are same in units

Q= m Cv dT

Q/dT=m Cv...1
dS= dQ/T ...2
from 1 & 2

dS= m Cv .....??…
I'm now confused ,,entropy can't equal mCv i know I'm wrong ,,but don't know why? and in the same time what does it mean that they have the same units ?

and if entropy measuers the chaos in the system and the specific heat capacity is the amount of heat to raise one Kg of the matter one degree of tempreture
aren't the entropy and the heat capacity related somehow ?
 
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su214 said:
aren't the entropy and the heat capacity related somehow ?

Sure, the heat capacity for a given constraint X (like constant volume or constant pressure) is defined as C_X=T(\partial S/\partial T)_X. In your derivation, dQ/T doesn't equal Q/dT, so this can't be used to show that entropy is the same as heat capacity. And it doesn't mean anything that they have the same units; work, heat, and torque are fundamentally different parameters that also share the same units (N-m), for example.
 


You all have confused entropy with enthalpy. Enthalpy is a measure of the total heat content of a substance. Entropy is a much more subtle concept, and its description and use form the basis for the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
 


SteamKing said:
You all have confused entropy with enthalpy. Enthalpy is a measure of the total heat content of a substance. Entropy is a much more subtle concept, and its description and use form the basis for the Second Law of Thermodynamics.

Who is the "all" you're addressing? Nobody is discussing enthalpy.
 


SteamKing said:
You all have confused entropy with enthalpy. Enthalpy is a measure of the total heat content of a substance. Entropy is a much more subtle concept, and its description and use form the basis for the Second Law of Thermodynamics.

Son, please. Do not give wrong information on here.


and in the same time what does it mean that they have the same units ?

It means nothing.

Also, manipulating some symbols doesn't really give any insight into what entropy is. Actually, the "engineering thermo" education will never explain what entropy or temperature are. For that you have to study on your own

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropy_(statistical_thermodynamics)
 


SteamKing said:
If you still think you have not confused enthalpy with entropy, check out the following link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enthalpy

It's not clear what you're talking about. What statement do you have a problem with, and how would you revise it?
 


su214 said:
hello ...
as we all know that
specific heat capacity = joule/ k
entropy = joule/k
they are same in units

Q= m Cv dT

Q/dT=m Cv...1
dS= dQ/T ...2
from 1 & 2

dS= m Cv .....??…
I'm now confused ,,entropy can't equal mCv i know I'm wrong ,,but don't know why? and in the same time what does it mean that they have the same units ?

and if entropy measuers the chaos in the system and the specific heat capacity is the amount of heat to raise one Kg of the matter one degree of tempreture
aren't the entropy and the heat capacity related somehow ?
I think is a good question. The Fourier law you started: Q= m Cv dT, I think is missing a dot over the Q which means is the heat flux (derivate with respect to time). The heat capacity has a subindex V which means it is a process at constant volume. However, it would still be valid to say:

Q = mCT (1)

Notice Q (without point) refers just to the internal energy in the system, C would be the heat capacity -without specifying if is at constant pressure or volume- and of course, m stands for mass and T for temperature (the units of temperature should be consistent with those of C and should be in kelvin units to make the relationship with entropy concept).

From Eq. (1) it can find out Q/T= mC = entropy

In my opinion is correct, entropy can be deducted from mC, considering C is not a constant anymore, but a parameter that changes with respect to volume and pressure. However, remember that entropy itself is not useful, instead we always find out the change of entropy (dS) from one state to another. This is the reason why I mentioned before that in order to make a comparison with entropy we should use kelvin temperature units.

So entropy can be seen as a disorder parameter, or the capacity to store energy of each component of a system of mass m.

My answer is just the way I understand the physics related to this issue therefore I cannot cite further works. I would appreciate reading more comments or citations about this topic.
 


Hi jonsayago, welcome to PF, but please note that personal theories are not appropriate here; your posts should be based on consensus physics.

jonsayago said:
The Fourier law you started: Q= m Cv dT, I think is missing a dot over the Q which means is the heat flux (derivate with respect to time).

No, this would make the units inconsistent. dQ is measured in Joules, so that dQ = mcVdT has units [J] = [kg][J/kg/°C][°C]. Note that in this equation, dQ must be an infinitesimal quantity to match dT.

jonsayago said:
However, it would still be valid to say: Q = mCT (1)

No. If you integrate dQ = mcdT, you get Q = mcΔT, which is different.

jonsayago said:
From Eq. (1) it can find out Q/T= mC = entropy

Eq. (1) is not correct, so this does not hold.
 
  • #10


First comment I accept Q shouldn't be a derivative with respect to time. It is simply the change with respect to one state and another.
However, Ec. (1) stands under equilibrium conditions. I mean in just one state. The rest of my derivation should be fine.
 
  • #11


Mapes said:
Hi jonsayago, welcome to PF, but please note that personal theories are not appropriate here; your posts should be based on consensus physics.



No, this would make the units inconsistent. dQ is measured in Joules, so that dQ = mcVdT has units [J] = [kg][J/kg/°C][°C]. Note that in this equation, dQ must be an infinitesimal quantity to match dT.



No. If you integrate dQ = mcdT, you get Q = mcΔT, which is different.



Eq. (1) is not correct, so this does not hold.
"No. If you integrate dQ = mcdT, you get Q = mcΔT, which is different"

How did you integrate this? I am sure you did a mistake here.
 
  • #12


jonsayago said:
"No. If you integrate dQ = mcdT, you get Q = mcΔT, which is different"

How did you integrate this? I am sure you did a mistake here.

\int dQ=\int_{U_1}^{U_2}dU=\int_{T_1}^{T_2}mc_VdT

\Delta U = Q=mc_V\Delta T

where ΔU=U2-U1 is the difference in energy due to the addition of thermal energy Q at constant volume, and where ΔT=T2-T1 is the temperature difference. See http://books.google.com/books?id=8l...=onepage&q=q "heat capacity" m cv ΔT&f=false" for the integrated version, for example. What other way is there to integrate it?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #13


You evaluated the right part of the integral (from T1 to T2) and not left part... You have to evaluate left part too from Q1 to Q2. Someone else out there to comment?
 
  • #14


By the way which software you use to write equations?
 
  • #15


jonsayago said:
You evaluated the right part of the integral (from T1 to T2) and not left part... You have to evaluate left part too from Q1 to Q2.

dQ is not an exact differential, and there is no such thing as Q1 or Q2. (A state can have an associated energy U or an associated temperature T, but not an associated heat Q; heat describes a path-dependent transfer of energy between two states.) See equation 15.11 http://books.google.com/books?id=8s...ok_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAQ", for example, where in this case the work W is zero because of the constant-volume constraint.

If you think I'm wrong, please show a reference from the literature.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #16


jonsayago said:
By the way which software you use to write equations?

You can enclose your equations between {tex} and {/tex}, using straight brackets instead of curly brackets. Or use {itex} and {/itex} for inline equations (within a paragraph). Click on anyone's equation to get a popup window showing their code.
 
  • #17


Here is the importance of using the absolute scale (kelvin) for temperature. When using it Q = U. Eq 33.4 of

http://books.google.com/books?id=8s...2&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=entropy&f=false

Though Q is not a state variable, the entropy S is a state variable (Dunod, Physique statistique). So we could have divided both sides of the equation by T first and then integrate from one state to another.
Check the entropy section of the book you quoted.
 
  • #18


By the way don't forget to tell me which program you use to set up equations in the internet!
 
  • #19


jonsayago said:
Check the entropy section of the book you quoted.

I don't see the equation Q = mCT anywhere. I only see Q = mcVΔT. Meaning that when you heat a system at constant volume, adding energy Q, the temperature change is ΔT = Q/(mcV).

So far you've not shown any evidence from the literature that S = mC, as you claim.

On the typesetting: see my post #16.
 
  • #20


jonsayago said:
Here is the importance of using the absolute scale (kelvin) for temperature. When using it Q = U. Eq 33.4 of

http://books.google.com/books?id=8s...2&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=entropy&f=false

Though Q is not a state variable, the entropy S is a state variable (Dunod, Physique statistique). So we could have divided both sides of the equation by T first and then integrate from one state to another.
Check the entropy section of the book you quoted.

OK, I had a minute and worked this through:

dQ=mc_VdT

Divide by T:

\frac{dQ_\mathrm{rev}}{T}=dS=mc_V\frac{dT}{T}

Integrate:

\int_{S_1}^{S_2}dS=\int_{T_1}^{T_2}mc_V\frac{dT}{T}

S_2-S_1=\Delta S=mc_V\ln\left(\frac{T_2}{T_1}\right)

This is not even close to S=mC.
 

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