Thermodynamics Practice Test: Second Law of Thermodynamics — Flashcards

Second Law of Thermodynamics topics include: Second law of thermodynamics, cyclic heat engine, kelvin planck statement, refrigerator and heat pump, carnot theorem, absolute temperature scales and clausius theorem.

The second law of thermodynamics is a physical law that describes the direction of spontaneous processes and the interconversion of heat and energy. 

It states that:
Heat always flows from hotter to colder regions of matter.
Entropy, the degree of randomness or disorder in a system, tends to increase over time.
Every energy transfer increases entropy and reduces the amount of usable energy available to do work.
It is impossible for heat transfer from a reservoir to completely convert to work in a cyclical process. 

The second law of thermodynamics is also known as the Law of Increased Entropy. It limits the direction of heat transfer and the achievable efficiencies of heat engines. For example, it is impossible to convert heat energy to mechanical energy with 100% efficiency.