Understanding Absolute Value in Thermodynamics

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
1 reply · 2K views
thedy
Messages
77
Reaction score
0
Hi everyone,I have a problem.I get a short thermodynamics course.Until now,I have thought,that I know,what absolute value means.
And here comes my problem.In lecture is writen,that if we want to make a synthesis in cell valid,we must to have:|ΔH|>|TΔS|.So what this expression means?Does it mean,ΔG<0,in other words?And how I know,that we are dealing with negative or positive numbers in this expression?And if yes,why this expression is expressed like absolute value?If we have it without it,what would happen?I asked teacher,but I m still confused.
Thanks for answers and time,you lost with my question.
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
With absolute values, only the magnitude of the change matters. It doesn't matter if the change is positive or negative. So H must change more than TS.