Intensive And Extensive Properties
In the physical sciences, an intensive property (also called a bulk property, intensive quantity, or intensive variable), is a physical property of a system that does not depend on the system size or the amount of material in the system: it is scale invariant.
By contrast, an extensive property (also extensive quantity, extensive variable, or extensive parameter) is one that is additive for independent, noninteracting subsystems. It is directly proportional to the amount of material in the system.
For example, density is an intensive property of a substance because it does not depend on the amount of that substance; mass and volume, which are measures of the amount of the substance, are extensive properties. In general the ratio of two extensive properties (such as mass and volume) that scale in the same way is scale-invariant, and hence an intensive property (such as density).
There are also measured physical properties which are neither intensive nor extensive. See counterexamples below.
Read more about Intensive And Extensive Properties: Intensive Properties, Extensive Properties, Related Extensive and Intensive Properties, Counterexamples
Famous quotes containing the words intensive, extensive and/or properties:
“We have to transpose ourselves into this impressionability of mind, into this sensitivity to tears and spiritual repentance, into this susceptibility, before we can judge how colorful and intensive life was then.”
—Johan Huizinga (1872–1945)
“There is a patent office at the seat of government of the universe, whose managers are as much interested in the dispersion of seeds as anybody at Washington can be, and their operations are infinitely more extensive and regular.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“The reason why men enter into society, is the preservation of their property; and the end why they choose and authorize a legislative, is, that there may be laws made, and rules set, as guards and fences to the properties of all the members of the society: to limit the power, and moderate the dominion, of every part and member of the society.”
—John Locke (1632–1704)