State, Process &Path

The situation of a system at some instantaneous of time is termed its state. The state of a system is the sum of the properties of the system; it symbolizes the complete explanation of the system. The state of a system is eventually established by the behavior of the nuclear particles and electrons making up all matter. To an external spectator, though, this behavior apparent itself in a number of macroscopic characteristics, that can be measured with no reference to the microscopic structure of matter. Such measurable macroscopic quantity states the state of the system to a degree that has been shown to be completely sufficient for the reasons of engineering thermodynamics. Such measurable macroscopic characteristics of a system are the properties.

The state point is a point on a property diagram symbolizing the properties of a system at any instant. A change of state of the system is the result of a procedure. The procedure consists of the succession of states passed via that is termed as the path of the procedure.