Can we show that the helmholtz free energy at equilibrium is minimized from its second...
kislotd
Answered
2022-07-14
Can we show that the helmholtz free energy at equilibrium is minimized from its second derivative?
Answer & Explanation
Damarion Pierce
Expert
2022-07-15Added 11 answers
The first derivative at an extremum point is 0 only when evaluated at . Same goes with the second derivative. So you first have to evaluate the second derivative, then you plug in the specific For example, take and At , the minimum, , and If we were to apply your logic however, we would have So, you have to expand your last line.
Now you apply the condition that you are at equilibrium, so , so that:
Then I guess that if pressure is positive, then the volume is a maximum so so that the first term is positive.