Final answer:
Point functions are properties that depend only on the state of a system, while path functions depend on the process or path taken to reach that state.
Step-by-step explanation:
Point functions and path functions are terms used in thermodynamics to describe how certain properties of a system change. A point function is a property that depends only on the state of the system and is independent of the path taken to reach that state.
A path function, on the other hand, depends on the path or process by which a certain state is reached. Examples of path functions include work done and heat transferred. The amount of work done or heat transferred will vary depending on the specific path taken to reach a certain state.
For example, if a gas is compressed from state A to state B, the change in internal energy is a point function because it only depends on the initial and final states. However, the work done during the compression is a path function because it depends on the specific process used to compress the gas.