Understanding Thermodynamics: Minimum Gibbs Potential and Maxwell's Relation

  • Thread starter Thread starter matematikuvol
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Thermodynamics
AI Thread Summary
In a thermodynamic system with constant pressure and temperature, the Gibbs potential is minimized, as indicated by the relationship G=U-TS+PV. The variation of Gibbs potential, expressed as δG, leads to the conclusion that δG must be greater than zero for any small deviation from equilibrium, confirming that G is at a minimum. The discussion also highlights the importance of correctly applying thermodynamic identities, particularly the distinction between variations (δ) and differentials (d). The conditions for the second derivatives of internal energy, particularly regarding their positivity, are essential for ensuring stability in the system. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the mathematical foundations underlying thermodynamic equilibrium and stability criteria.
matematikuvol
Messages
190
Reaction score
0
If in some thermodynamics system preasure P and temperature T are constant then Gibbs potential has minimum.

G=U-TS+PV

Variation of G is

\delta G=\delta U-T \delta S+P \delta V

U=U(S,V)

\delta U=(\frac{\partial U}{\partial S})_V\delta S+(\frac{\partial U}{\partial V})_S\delta V+\frac{1}{2}(\frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial S^2})_V(\delta S)^2+\frac{1}{2}(\frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial V^2})_S(\delta V)^2+\frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial S\partial V}\delta S \delta V

If we use Maxwell relation we get

\delta G=\frac{1}{2}(\frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial S^2})_V(\delta S)^2+\frac{1}{2}(\frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial V^2})_S(\delta V)^2+\frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial S\partial V}\delta S \delta V

and from here

\delta G>0

Is it true from G is minimum. Or \delta G=0, \delta^2 G>0. Tnx for your answer.
 
Last edited:
Science news on Phys.org
Your expansion of δU (second order Taylor expansion) seems to be missing (δS)2 and (δV)2 in the third and fourth terms.
 
Tnx. I fixed it. Do you know answer to my question?
 
No. I'm still trying to follow your reasoning. Your first expression for δG should surely be

δG = VδP - SδT

The right hand side of your equation for δG is surely identically zero (at least to first order)?

[Earlier mistake in signs put right following RAP's post. Sorry.]
 
Last edited:
The correct expression for δG is derived as:

G=U+PV-TS

δG=δU+(PδV+VδP)-(TδS+SδT) = (TδS-PδV)+(PδV+VδP)-(TδS+SδT) = VδP-SδT

which will be zero for a constant number of particles (N)
 
Yes you're right. Landau says in his book. In thermodynamics equlibrium G is minimum. Thus for any small deviation from equilibrium the change of the quontity G musy be positive. So

\delta U -T\delta S+P\delta V>0

In other words the minimum work which must be done from bring this part of body from equilibrium to any neighboring state is positive.

Well ok. I can except that. But

δG=δU+(PδV+VδP)-(TδS+SδT) = (TδS-PδV)+(PδV+VδP)-(TδS+SδT) = VδP-SδT

But if I understand well in some neighboring state \delta P, and \delta T isn't zero.
 
Also is interesting that Landau then says

\frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial S^2}(\delta S)^2+2\frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial S\partial V}\delta S\delta V+\frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial V^2}(\delta V)^2>0

If such an inequality holds for arbitrary \delta S and \delta V then

\frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial S^2}>0

and

\frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial S^2}\frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial V^2}-(\frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial S\partial V})^2>0

How he get this second inequality? I don't understand. And why he doesn't have condition

\frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial V^2}>0

Thanks for your answer.
 
Last edited:
Rap said:
The correct expression for δG is derived as:

G=U+PV-TS

δG=δU+(PδV+VδP)-(TδS+SδT) = (TδS-PδV)+(PδV+VδP)-(TδS+SδT) = VδP-SδT

which will be zero for a constant number of particles (N)

You can't use eq

\delta U=T\delta S-P\delta V

Second law of thermodynamics is defined by eq

d U=TdS-Pd V

You can't simply change derivatives with variations. Give reference for that.
 
matematikuvol said:
You can't use eq

\delta U=T\delta S-P\delta V

Second law of thermodynamics is defined by eq

d U=TdS-Pd V

You can't simply change derivatives with variations. Give reference for that.

I assumed the person was using "\delta" incorrectly in place of "d" and didn't bother to correct it. I probably should not have done that. All system variables should use "d", but products of conjugate variables should use \delta like \delta W=P dV. Will that fix everything?
 
Last edited:
  • #10
This \delta-s from my posts are variations, not derivatives.
 
  • #11
matematikuvol said:
Also is interesting that Landau then says

\frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial S^2}(\delta S)^2+2\frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial S\partial V}\delta S\delta V+\frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial V^2}(\delta V)^2>0

If such an inequality holds for arbitrary \delta S and \delta V then

\frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial S^2}>0

and

\frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial S^2}\frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial V^2}-(\frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial S\partial V})^2>0

How he get this second inequality? I don't understand. And why he doesn't have condition

\frac{\partial^2 U}{\partial V^2}>0

Thanks for your answer.

There are two variables that are being varied arbitrarily (del_S and del_V). So you will only need to satisfy TWO conditions. The following is one way to derive one set of two conditions:

In the inequality (21.2) of pg 64, let x = delta_S (just for convenience;)
Now you get a quadratic equation on the left side of the inequality (21.2) of the form:
a x^2 + b x + c > 0

(where a, b, c are the other terms consisting of partials etc).

(i) For the left side of this inequality to have no roots, you want the following condition for the discriminant:

b^2 - 4 a c < 0 (this is condition 21.4 in the book)

(ii) and for the quadratic equation on the left side to be > 0, you need, in addition to condition (i) above, the following condition:

a > 0 (this is condition (21.3) in the book)

Hope that helps.

This is just at the side (a digression): And you can similarly derive an alternative 2 conditions, if you took x = delta_V originally. In fact, one of the conditions will be the same as (i), and the other can be transformed to
(partial_P / partial_V)_S < 0 (which is related to the isothermal compressibility in (21.6) through (16.14)). But you need to show that c_p > 0 in 16.14 in order to get 21.6 (we only know that c_v > 0 in the derivation up to 21.5); so Landau shows that c_p > c_v > 0 in pg 64-65 with the help of 16.10 and 21.6.
 
Last edited:
  • #12
centaure said:
There are two variables that are being varied arbitrarily (del_S and del_V). So you will only need to satisfy TWO conditions.


Actually, I was wrong about the reasoning why you need two conditions. In the above inequality, it is just because that is all you need to satisfy the inequality (which is quadratic in x = delta_S). In addition, the extra condition you get from using x = delta_V can be transformed to 21.3.

In the general case, you will have 3 conditions (see Le Chatelier's principle (eqns 22.3 - 22.4))
 
Back
Top