Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 ii Paper 4 34D i Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-05
For a simple homogeneous thermodynamic system, internal energy is extensive: . Euler theorem for homogeneous functions and give , henceAlso , so at fixed ,At coexistence gas and liquid have the same temperature, pressure and chemical potential. Integrating along the intervening isotherm gives . Integration by parts, with endpoints at the same coexistence pressure , gives the Maxwell constructionThe horizontal line at replaces the mechanically unstable loop of the van der Waals isotherm. The extensivity argument presupposes the ordinary thermodynamic limit and neglects macroscopic interface contributions.