állapotváltozó

An állapotváltozó, or state variable in English, is a quantity that describes the state of a system at a particular point in time. These variables are essential for understanding and predicting the behavior of dynamic systems. In physics and engineering, state variables are often used to characterize the condition of a physical system, such as temperature, pressure, volume, or velocity. For example, in thermodynamics, temperature and pressure are common state variables for a gas.

The set of all state variables uniquely defines the state of the system. If the state variables are known at a given time, the future behavior of the system can be determined, assuming the governing laws are known. This concept is fundamental in fields like control theory, where state-space representation uses state variables to model and analyze complex systems. Unlike input or output variables, state variables represent the internal condition of the system.

In a broader context, the term "állapotváltozó" can apply to any system where its condition can be described by a set of measurable or observable parameters. This includes not just physical systems but also abstract ones like software processes or economic models. The choice of state variables depends on the specific system and the level of detail required for its analysis.