A Mnemonic Scheme for Thermodynamics

Abstract

AbstractA mnemonic scheme is presented to help recall the equations in classical thermodynamics that connect the four state variables (temperature, pressure, volume, and entropy) to the four thermodynamic potentials (internal energy, Helmholtz free energy, enthalpy, and Gibbs free energy). Max Born created a square to help recall the thermodynamic equations. The new scheme here separates the Max Born square into two squares, resulting in easier recalling of several sets of equations, including the Maxwell equations, without complicated rules to remember the positive or negative signs.