Idea 4

Entropy is closely related to the

2nd law of thermodynamics.

The Second Law of Thermodynamics is unique among laws of physics in that it

Can be states in different ways, tells us what cannot happen, has something to do with the nature of time, and deals with entropy.

Which of these is an example of heat engine?

Electric power plant Jet plane engine Car or Truck engine Earth's Climate System All of the above

The Law of Conservation of Energy tells us "Time's Arrow"

False

Examples of what is not a heat engine?

Hand grenade and Home furnace

If you run a refrigerator in a closed room with the refrigerator door open, the room temperature will

Increase

Name something that is possible according to the second law of thermodynamics

It makes life possible for many life forms. Life forms make highly organized molecules, but this can only happen if we disorganize other molecules (food.)

Which of Newton's Laws are different when time is running backwards?

None

Name something that is not possible according to the second law of thermodynamics.

Total entropy decreasing and the arrow of time going backwards.

Which component(s) must all heat engines possess?

a component at high temperature and a component at low temperature

When we talk about entropy, we are referring to

a numerical attribute of something

Heat engines are important to our everyday lives because they

are used in electric power plants, trucks, and cars.

An electric "heat pump" is used in many homes for cooling during hot weather. Why does this not violate the second law of thermodynamics?

because it consumes electricity

When something becomes more organized, its entropy

becomes smaller

Organisms can only be alive if they:

consume some substance whose entropy can increase

What does the total amount of entropy never do?

decrease

In order for a heat engine to function, there must be a (an):

difference in temperature

Spontaneous heat flow is always from

higher to lower temperature

What does entropy always do?

impossible to say without knowing the details

The entropy of everything in the universe must

never decrease

Is an "evaporative cooler" an example of a refrigerator?

no, it does not use mechanical energy (the fan just moves the air) and it cannot run continuously

Your neighbor Dr. Marty McCrazy has a new invention. He says that it generates 200 horsepower of usable work every minute, and all it needs to run is a quart of room temperature water, and after it is finished, you get half a quart of warm water left over. Is this a project you should invest in?

no, this isn't possible

In order for the entropy of one thing to increase

nothing else need happen

How might a refrigerator be constructed from a heat engine?

run it in reverse

Entropy and disorganization are

strongly related to one another

In order for the entropy of one thing to decrease

the entropy of another thing must increase by an equal or larger amount