Answer to Question #113610 in Chemistry for MAKHUOGA ALFRED FRIDAY

Question

discussed the Laws of Thermodynamics and their relation to energy and energy transfer. Energy transfers take place constantly in everyday activities. Think of two scenarios: cooking on a stove and driving. Explain how the second law of thermodynamics applies to these two scenarios.

Answer 1

The First Law says that energy cannot be created or destroyed.

The Second Law of thermodynamics deals with the quality of energy. It describes the relationship of various forms of energy and entropy. It states that when energy changes its form from one state to another, more and more energy is lost and wasted. It also states that when a system is in an isolated state, there is a natural tendency of introducing entropy and thus a disordered state is introduced.

One way we can see the Second Law at work is in our daily diet. We eat food each day, without gaining that same amount of body weight. The food we eat is largely expended as carbon dioxide and heat energy, plus some work done in repairing and rebuilding bodily cells and tissues, physical movement, and neuronal activity.

While cooking, food is heating up on the stove, but not all of the heat goes to cooking the food, some of it is lost as heat energy to the surrounding air, increasing entropy. While driving, cars burn gasoline to run the engine and move the car. This reaction is not completely efficient, as some energy during this process is lost as heat energy, which is why the hood and the components underneath it heat up while the engine is turned on. The tires also heat up because of friction with the pavement, which is additional energy loss. This energy transfer, like all others, also increases entropy.