Difference between revisions of "Second Law of Thermodynamics"
(No difference)
| |
Latest revision as of 17:00, 30 April 2007
This definition page has been automatically generated. You can help ExoDictionary by expanding, updating, or correcting it. |
| This autostub has not yet had its initial copyediting proof and may contain significant formatting and even factual errors. You can improve Exodictionary by cleaning up the page markup and verifying that the definition is correct and then removing this tag. |
| This autostub has not yet had its initial categorization proof and may be categorized incorrectly. You can improve Exodictionary by removing inappropriate categories and then removing this tag. |
Second Law of Thermodynamics
</dt>
An inequality asserting that it is impossible to transfer heat from a colder
to a warmer system without the occurrence of other simultaneous changes in the
two systems
or in the environment.
</dd>
It follows from this law that during an adiabatic process, entropy
cannot decrease. For reversible adiabatic processes entropy remains constant,
and for irreversible adiabatic processes it increases. Another equivalent
formulation of the law is that it is impossible to convert the heat of a
system into work without the occurrence of other simultaneous changes in the
system or its environment. This version, which requires an engine to have a
cold source as well as a heat source, is particularly useful in engineering
applications. See first
law of thermodynamics. [[/a>|/a>
]]
References
This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use
