What does the second law of thermodynamics state?

Answer 1

There are various statements associated with the second law of thermodynamics. All of them being logically equivalent. The most logical statement is the one involving entropy increase.

So, let me introduce the other equivalent statements of the same law.

Kelvin-Planck's statement -

No cyclic process is possible whose sole result is the complete conversion of heat into an equivalent amount of work.

Clausius' statement -

No cyclic process is possible whose sole effect would be the transfer of heat from a colder body to a hotter body.

The fact that entropy always increases in irreversible processes—both natural and spontaneous—is what distinguishes them all.

Furthermore, it follows naturally from the second law of thermodynamics that entropy always tends to rise.

A physical system will eventually reach its maximum entropy state.

Stated differently, the second law denotes the course of a natural process's evolution.

The tendency of natural systems is always to maximize their entropy.

And the second law is all about that.

For instance, heat naturally moves from a hotter to a colder body when two bodies come into contact with each other because of the temperature differential. However, no one has ever seen heat naturally move from a colder to a hotter body.

The second law states that although certain phenomena are allowed by the first law, such processes never happen naturally.

Heat moves from a hotter body to a colder body because an increase in entropy accompanies this process; however, the opposite never happens because a decrease in the system's entropy is necessary.

That is the main point of the Clausius statement.

It is possible to demonstrate that every assertion made in the second law is entirely equivalent and centers on the idea of entropy increase.

Though the second law states that this process is not spontaneous and natural, it is possible for heat to transfer from a colder body to a hotter body (as in a refrigerator or air conditioner). External work is necessary for this process to occur.

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Answer 2

The second law of thermodynamics states that the total entropy of an isolated system always increases over time, and spontaneous natural processes move towards a state of higher entropy.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

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