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Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: epicure who wrote (23570)	7/10/2006 2:53:25 PM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 541731

Wikipedia explains it all to you. en.wikipedia.org

To: epicure who wrote (23570)	7/10/2006 4:45:10 PM
From: Hagar	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 541731

State is strictly defined in the study or Thermodynamics. Confusion arises when the term is interpreted in a more "layman" manner. The notion of a fluid transitioning between two states instantly is when it is view at a molecular level. A thermodynamic state is defined by any two thermodynamic properties e.g. pressure and volume. At a macro level the individual molecules can be at slightly different thermodynamic state giving rise to phase transitions. While a molecule of a fluid will change from liquid to vapor "instantly", in bulk form it will go through a series of boiling phases. These phenomena lead to interesting manipulations such as refrigeration etc.