Heat and work as path functions

Consider the apparatus shown in Fig. 3.1 on the next page. The system consists of the water 

Thermodynamics and Chemistry, second e6 on,version 3 20]] by Howard DeVoe. Latest version www.chem.umd.edu/thermobook 

Here are three experiments with different processes. Each process has the same initial state defined by Ti = 300.0 K, and each has the same final state. 

Experiment 2 We start with the system in the same initial state as in experiment 1, and again surround it with thermal insulation. This time, instead of releasing the weight we close the switch to complete an electrical circuit with the resistor and allow the same quantity of electrical work to be done on the system as the mechanical work done in experiment 1. We discover the final temperature (300.10 K) is exactly the same as at the end of experiment 1. The process and path are different from those in experiment 1, but the work and the initial and final states are the same. 

Experiment 3 We return the system to its initial state, remove the thermal insulation, and place the system in thermal contact with a heat reservoir of temperatme 300.10 K. F.n- 

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