Compressibility, expansion coefficient

a. Compressibility means “capable of being compressed”. If the pressure increases by a small amount
∆p, (and the temperature doesn’t change) then the volume changes by the small amount

∆V ≈ −V κT ∆p.

We certainly expect that if the pressure increases the volume will decrease, so the negative sign acts to make
κT a positive quantity.

If κT is small then a given ∆p will result in a small shrinkage ∆V : the material is hard.
If κT is large then a given ∆p will result in a large shrinkage ∆V : the material is soft.

A substance with high compressibility is also called “squeezable”.

The factor of 1/V was put into the definition because the shrinkage is proportional to the volume. Divide
by volume to remove this dependence, which makes κT a property of the substance rather than of the sample.

b. The expansion coefficient β is negative for water between 0◦ C and 4◦ C.

c. In two-phase coexistence (i.e. at the cliffs in the graphs below) κT = +∞ and β = ±∞.

gas liquid
liquid gas
V V

0 p 0 T

1 1
d. For the ideal gas, κT (p, T ) = and β(p, T ) = .
p T
e.
∂β 1 ∂2V 1 ∂V ∂V
= − 2
∂p V ∂p∂T V ∂p ∂T
∂κT 1 ∂2V 1 ∂V ∂V
= − + 2
∂p V ∂T ∂p V ∂T ∂p
which together imply
∂κT (p, T ) ∂β(p, T )
=− .
∂T ∂p
 ∂κT (p, T ) ∂β(p, t)
f. For the ideal gas, = 0 and = 0.
∂T ∂p
Note: Watch out for this error!
1 V
κT = =
p N kB T
∂κT V N kB
= − =− 2 .
∂T N kB T 2 p V
This error comes from considering κT as a function of V and T , whereas it is defined (and measured!) as
a function of p and T . (A measurement of κT is performed on a sample at some given pressure — usually
atmospheric pressure. It is not performed on some sample in a strong box of fixed volume!)