The Second Law of Thermodynamics
Objectives Covered
b) Students should understand the second law of thermodynamics, the concept of entropy, and heat engines and the Carnot cycle so they can:
(1) Determine whether entropy will increase, decrease, or stay the same during a particular situation.
(2) Compute the maximum possible efficiency of a heat engine operating between two given temperatures.
(3) Compute the actual efficiency of a heat engine.
(4) Relate the heats exchanged at each thermal reservoir in a Carnot cycle to the temperatures of the reservoirs.
b) Students should understand the second law of thermodynamics, the concept of entropy, and heat engines and the Carnot cycle so they can:
(1) Determine whether entropy will increase, decrease, or stay the same during a particular situation.
(2) Compute the maximum possible efficiency of a heat engine operating between two given temperatures.
(3) Compute the actual efficiency of a heat engine.
(4) Relate the heats exchanged at each thermal reservoir in a Carnot cycle to the temperatures of the reservoirs.
Definition of Second Law
There are many ways the second law is stated. One of them, stated by R. J. E. Clausius (1822-1888) and relating to heat engines and heat pumps is this:
heat can flow spontaneously from a hot object to a cold object; heat will not flow spontaneously from a cold object to a hot object.
Another general statement of the second law of thermodynamics that relates to entropy is this:
the total entropy of any system plus that of its environment increases as a result of any natural process.
For more information, please proceed to the designating subcategories:
Heat Engines
Heat Pumps
Entropy
heat can flow spontaneously from a hot object to a cold object; heat will not flow spontaneously from a cold object to a hot object.
Another general statement of the second law of thermodynamics that relates to entropy is this:
the total entropy of any system plus that of its environment increases as a result of any natural process.
For more information, please proceed to the designating subcategories:
Heat Engines
Heat Pumps
Entropy
