Question

Choose all of the processes from below which describe changes which are independent of the path by which the change occurs.

the elevation increase experienced by a traveller travelling from Grand Isle, LA to Denver, Colorado


the work generated by the body of an athlete as it metabolizes the sucrose in a cube of sugar


the heat evolved when a cube of sugar is oxidized to CO₂(g) and H₂O(g)


the distance travelled by a steer in a rodeo attempting to evade capture


the amount of work required to build a house


the heat generated by a car engine as it burns a gallon of gasoline


the longitude decrease experienced by a traveller travelling from Baton Rouge, LA to London, England

Answer 1

Processes which describe changes which are independent of the path by which the change occurs, thus changes are state function not path functions:

the elevation increase experienced by a traveller travelling from Grand Isle, LA to Denver, Colorado : it is path independent change, as elevation increase depends upon initial and final states.


the work generated by the body of an athlete as it metabolizes the sucrose in a cube of sugar : it is path dependent, as work is path function.


the heat evolved when a cube of sugar is oxidized to CO2(g) and H2O(g) : yes, it is path independent, as final and initial states are defined.


the distance travelled by a steer in a rodeo attempting to evade capture: distance traveled is path dependent.


the amount of work required to build a house : it is path dependent as work is path functions.


the heat generated by a car engine as it burns a gallon of gasoline : it is path dependent , as heat is path function; states are not defined.


the longitude decrease experienced by a traveller travelling from Baton Rouge, LA to London, England : it is path independent, depends on initial and final states.