LearnChemE

Degrees of Freedom: Summary

The answers to the ConcepTests are given below and will open in a separate window. 
Key points from this module:
  • Degrees of freedom = #unknowns – #independent balances – #other equations
  • A system with zero degrees of freedom is solvable.
  • The number of independent balances equals the number of components in the system. An overall balance can also be used, but it is not independent of the individual component balances.
From studying this module, you should now be able to:
  • Determine if a system is sufficiently specified so that it can be solved.
 

Prepared by Michelle Medlin, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder