In: Physics
Formulate the Second Law of thermodynamics and explain why the simple example of a kitchen refrigerator does not violate it.
The second law of thermodynamics states that heat transfer occurs spontaneously only from higher to lower temperature bodies.
The second law of thermodynamics can be expressed as the following: It is impossible in any system for heat transfer from a reservoir to completely convert to work in a cyclical process in which the system returns to its initial state.
Refrigerator does not violate 2nd law of thermodynamics because-
A refrigerator is based on the principle of the reversed Carnot Theorem.
Also the Second Law of Thermodynamics states that heat can flow from high temperature reservoirs to low temperature reservoirs. However, to do the opposite external work must be applied.
Refrigerator take heat out from food and throw it away in the atmosphere which is at a relatively higher temperature. But, this can only happen if we supply the refrigerator with electricity (external work applied).