Question
Identify the statement, which best describes the second law of thermodynamics :
The correct answer is
When an isolated system undergoes a spontaneous change, the entropy of the universe increases.
Second Law of Thermodynamics Explained
The second law of thermodynamics fundamentally deals with the directionality of natural processes and the concept of entropy.
Let's analyze the options:
- Option 1 and Option 2 describe the First Law of Thermodynamics, which states that energy is conserved and cannot be created or destroyed.
- Option 3 describes the Third Law of Thermodynamics, which relates entropy to absolute zero temperature.
- Option 4 states: "When an isolated system undergoes a spontaneous change, the entropy of the universe increases." This statement accurately captures a core principle of the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Spontaneous processes naturally proceed in a direction that increases the total entropy of the universe (system + surroundings). For an isolated system, the universe is just the system itself, hence its entropy increases.
Therefore, Option 4 is the best description.
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Important Questions from Thermodynamic Relations
- Which of the following statement(s) is/are true for an isothermal process ?
(a) There is no change in enthalpy
(b) There is no change in internal energy
(c) There is change in temperature
Choose the correct code : - The sum of the internal energy and product of pressure and volume is known as :
Reversible adiabatic process may be expressed as (T1/T2) equal to
The relation for specific heats is given by
The property relation for enthalpy change, dh is:
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