Thermodynamic process and properties and cycle

Properties 

Properties are the characteristics used to describe the condition of a system.  Examples are Pressure, Temperature and Entropy etc.

Depending upon the change of a property with respect to mass, they can be divided into two.

Intensive property

Properties which are independent of mass is called intensive property.  Examples:- Density, Temperature, Pressure.

Extensive properties

Properties which are dependent on mass is called extensive properties.  Example:- Volume, Energy.

Process

Consider a system with pressure P1 and volume V₁.  A change in volume V₁ to V₂ change the pressure P₁ to P₂ and volume reaches V_n.  If we plot the graph of P vs V we get a curve called path of the system.  If the path is completely specified, then it is called a process.  Example:- Isothermic, Isobaric, Isochoric.

                             

                    Cycle

                 

                    When a process completes and finally come to its initial state then the                                                            process said to be a cycle