Question

Please provide a 300 word description AND application for ONE of the following topics:

• entropy
• the second law of thermodynamics
• engines or refrigerators (from a thermodynamic perspective

Your description should explain the theory, provide an application for the theory, and show example formulas.

Answer 1

The second Law of thermodynamics

The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that the state of entropy of the entire universe, as an isolated system, will always increase over time. The second law also states that the changes in the entropy in the universe can never be negative.

The second law of thermodynamics is a general principle which places constraints upon the direction of heat transfer and the attainable efficiencies of heat engines. In so doing, it goes beyond the limitations imposed by the first law of thermodynamics. Its implications may be visualized in terms of the waterfall analogy.

In any cyclic process the entropy will either increase or remain the same.

Second law of thermodynamics finds its application in refrigerators and heat pumps, which are based on the principle of reversed Carnot cycle or reversed Carnot theorem.