Talk:Intensive and extensive properties
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Which is the correct term in physics / chemistry:
- intrinsic/extrinsic
or
- intensive/extensive?
I've seen both usages. The Anome
- I have only seen intensive/extensive. Chadloder 09:42 Apr 1, 2003 (UTC)
Extensive makes more sense to me, because it's about something being extended. Michael Hardy 21:29, 5 August 2005 (UTC)
We could use a section on the computing/engineering use of the term "intrinsic". Wouter Lievens 09:26, 4 May 2006 (UTC)
- Nevermind, it exists at Intrinsic function.
Removed 'vagility' as entirely inappropriate. It is a biological term. If "fragility" was intended, it is a poor example to list here as it is hard to define and measure, and there is no commonly recognised use for such measurements.
On the other hand, I think the discussion on the difference between perception and physical properties should stay here. I am aware that perception is closer to a psychological topic than a physical one - but those who DO confuse the two will never understand the difference if it is tucked away under Perception or Psychology, and the function of an encyclopedia entry is to educate and inform, is it not?
The comment about "pressure" being in the wrong place has been corrected by putting it where it belongs, and removing the comment.
202.61.162.14 12:51, 8 May 2006 (UTC)
[edit] 'Bulk' vs. 'intensive'?
I note a merge notice suggesting that bulk property be merged into this article. Is 'intensive property' really a more common usage than 'bulk property'? In quite a few years of science and engineering (with a fair bit of material properties) I've overwhelmingly heard 'bulk'. Some of this might be regional variance, but Googling gets slightly more hits for +"bulk property" than +"intensive property" (787 vs. 739, if you click to the end). ('Extensive' seems to be the antonym of choice in either case.)
Unless there's a reason to favour 'intensive', I would instead suggest renaming this article to bulk and extensive properties, acknowledging 'intensive' and 'bulk' as synonyms, and turning both bulk property and intensive property into redirects. --Calair 02:25, 9 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Merge
I just wanted to say that I support the merges suggested on the page. Whether or not this article is ultimately called bulk and extensive or intensive and extensive is pretty unimportant to me. For what it's worth, the terminology being used in my thermo class is intensive. That being said, there is information in the intensive and extensive quantity articles that could be incorporated into this one to improve it. If I get some time here, I'll go ahead and try to add to this one. !jim 02:28, 14 October 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Physics favors intensive
From the standpoint of physics, especially that of the statistical variety, the term "intensive" is most commonly used. Most of the classic textbooks (i.e. Reif) and current work in generalized entropies use intensive/extensive, so such a usage would provide more consistency with established literature. Futher, from a more linguistic point of view, the phrase "intensive and extensive" pair together better than "bulk and exensive"; the change in prefix makes it clear that you're talking about the two sides of a single coin. The colloquial usage of the term "bulk", at least to me, violates what's meant by an intensive/bulk property in its technical usage. I hear bulk and I think "most of, if not, the whole thing" when in fact what we mean is "whatever bit you pick out from the whole thing, no matter how tiny". For that reason I favor a merge to "Intensive and extensive properties". Pgriffin 16:52, 13 September 2006 (UTC)
- Fair enough. I agree that 'intensive and extensive' is more aesthetic, and it's common enough to be a reasonable choice. Merge/redirecting to here seems reasonable. --Calair 01:29, 28 September 2006 (UTC)
