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Le Châtelier reciprocal relations and the mechanical analog
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Le Châtelier reciprocal relations and the mechanical analog

Robert Gilmore
American journal of physics, v 51(8), pp 733-743
Aug 1983

Abstract

response functions thermodynamics disturbances equilibrium matrix elements
Le Châtelier’s principle is discussed carefully in terms of two sets of simple thermodynamic examples. The principle is then formulated quantitatively for general thermodynamic systems. The formulation is in terms of a perturbation‐response matrix, the Le Châtelier matrix [L]. Le Châtelier’s principle is contained in the diagonal elements of this matrix, all of which exceed one. These matrix elements describe the response of a system to a perturbation of either its extensive or intensive variables. These response ratios are inverses of each other. The Le Châtelier matrix is symmetric, so that a new set of thermodynamic reciprocal relations is derived. This quantitative formulation is illustrated by a single simple example which includes the original examples and shows the reciprocities among them. The assumptions underlying this new quantitative formulation of Le Châtelier’s principle are general and applicable to a wide variety of nonthermodynamic systems. Le Châtelier’s principle is formulated quantitatively for mechanical systems in static equilibrium, and mechanical examples of this formulation are given.

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