An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A measure of the energy level of a → thermodynamic system. It represents the amount of → work obtainable when the system undergoes a → change. The main types of thermodynamic potential are: → internal energy,
→ enthalpy, the → Helmholtz free energy, and the
→ Gibbs free energy.

See also: → thermodynamic; → potential.