Second Law of Thermodynamics and Heat Engines

The rule that gives natural processes a direction, and how engines convert heat into work.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

Heat cannot spontaneously flow from a colder body to a hotter one without external work being done — natural processes have a preferred direction.

Heat Engines

A heat engine converts heat energy into mechanical work, operating between a hot and a cold reservoir. No heat engine can be 100% efficient.

Reversible and Irreversible Processes

A reversible process can be reversed without leaving any change in the surroundings; most real-world processes are irreversible.

Lesson 24 of 31
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