equation of state

equation of state, an equation that relates the values of pressure, volume, and temperature of a given substance in thermodynamic equilibrium.

ideal gas lawAccording to the ideal gas law, when a gas is compressed into a smaller volume, the number and velocity of molecular collisions increase, raising the gas's temperature and pressure.

The simplest known example of an equation of state is the one relating the pressure P, the volume V, and the absolute temperature T of one mole of an ideal gas—that is, the ideal gas law PV = RT, in which R is the universal gas constant. Dense real gases, liquids, and solids have more complicated equations of state.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Erik Gregersen.
Citation Information
Article Title: equation of state
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 15 June 2022
Access Date: February 22, 2025