Second Law of Thermodynamics & Entropy

Flashcards covering key concepts related to the Second Law of Thermodynamics and Entropy.

Entropy

A thermodynamic property representing a measure of disorder in a system.

Clausius Inequality

A principle that defines entropy and states that the change in entropy is less than or equal to the heat transferred divided by the absolute temperature.

Increase of Entropy Principle

The principle stating that the total entropy of an isolated system can never decrease; it either increases or remains the same.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

States that entropy can be created but not destroyed; total entropy of a system and its surroundings cannot decrease.

Reversible Process

A process that occurs in such a way that the system and surroundings can be returned to their original states without any changes.

Irreversible Process

A process that cannot return to its original state without any changes to the surroundings.

Entropy Transfer

The transfer of entropy due to heat transfer or mass flow in and out of a system.

Entropy Generation

The production of entropy within a system due to irreversibilities during a process.

Entropy Change Equation

Defined as the difference in entropy between the final and initial states of a system.

Cyclic Integral of dq/dt

Represents the total heat transfer per unit time over a complete thermodynamic cycle.

Mass Flow and Entropy

Refers to the relationship where mass transfer into or out of a system always affects the system's entropy.

Thermodynamic Property

A property that depends only on the state of the system, not the path taken to reach that state.