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Chapter 14: Problem 45

State the entropy form of the second law of thermodynamics in your own words.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The second law states that the entropy of an isolated system will always increase or remain constant, implying increasing disorder over time.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Second Law of Thermodynamics

The second law of thermodynamics states that in any cyclic process, the entropy of an isolated system will either increase or remain the same. Entropy is a measure of disorder or randomness in a system.
02

Define Entropy

Entropy, often symbolized as S, is a concept that quantifies the amount of thermal energy in a system that is not available to do work. It is also interpreted as the degree of disorder or randomness in the system.
03

Relate Entropy to the Second Law

According to the second law of thermodynamics, the total entropy of an isolated system can never decrease over time. Instead, it either increases or stays the same.
04

Express the Law in Your Own Words

In simpler terms, the second law of thermodynamics in the form of entropy means that the total disorder or randomness (entropy) of an isolated system will always increase over time, or in the best case, remain constant. This implies that natural processes tend to progress towards a state of maximum entropy or disorder.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Second Law of Thermodynamics
The Second Law of Thermodynamics is a fundamental principle in physics. It states that the entropy of an isolated system will never decrease as time progresses. This law implies that energy tends to disperse or spread out if it is not hindered from doing so. According to this principle, natural processes are irreversible and move towards a state of equilibrium.

For example:
  • Heat will naturally flow from a hot object to a cold one, not the other way around.
  • A gas will spread out evenly in a container, rather than remaining concentrated in one area.
When understanding the Second Law of Thermodynamics, think of it as a rule that emphasizes the inevitable spread of energy and increase of disorder in the universe.
Entropy
Entropy, often denoted as S, is a measure of disorder or randomness in a system. It also quantifies the amount of thermal energy in a system that is not available to do work. Here are some key points to understand entropy better:
  • Measure of disorder: The more disordered or random a system is, the higher its entropy.
  • Irreversibility: Entropy helps explain why certain processes, like mixing two different gases, are irreversible.
  • Thermal energy: Entropy indicates the energy that cannot be utilized for mechanical work.
One useful way to think of entropy is to consider a deck of cards. A brand-new deck is ordered and has low entropy. As you shuffle the cards, they become more disordered and the entropy increases. The more you shuffle, the more likely the cards will be in a highly disordered state.
Isolated System
An isolated system is one that does not exchange energy or matter with its surroundings. This means that all the energy and matter contained in the system are conserved, but they can change form within the system. Key characteristics of an isolated system include:
  • Self-contained: It does not interact with its external environment, making external influences negligible.
  • Conservation: Energy within an isolated system is conserved, although it can transform from one type to another.
  • Entropy change: According to the Second Law of Thermodynamics, the entropy within an isolated system can either increase or remain constant, but it cannot decrease.
A classic example of an isolated system is a perfectly insulated thermos that neither lets heat in nor out. The liquid inside the thermos will eventually reach thermal equilibrium without losing or gaining heat from the outside.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

If the input temperature of an ideal heat engine is fixed, what happens to its efficiency as its exhaust temperature is increased?

A ringing bell is inserted into a large glass of water. The bell and the water are initially at the same temperature and are insulated from their surroundings. Eventually, the bell stops vibrating, and the water comes to rest. a. What happens to the mechanical energy of the bell? b. What happens to the temperature of the system? c. What happens to the entropy of the system?

Why is it not possible to run an ocean liner by taking in seawater at the bow of the ship, extracting internal energy from the water, and dropping ice cubes off the stern?

Would it be possible to design a heat engine that produces no thermal pollution? Explain.

A car company has just designed an ultra-fuel-efficient car, and they wish to advertise the best possible miles per gallon. If the engine can be thought of as a heat engine with a constant operating temperature, would it be better to run the trial on a hot day or a cold day? Why?
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