Frank wrote several statements to summarize the relationship between the first and second laws of thermodynamics.

Question

1 - Thermal energy is conserved.
2 - Some thermal energy is lost and some is used to do work.
3 - Thermal energy flows from areas of higher to lower temperatures.
4 - Thermal energy can be transferred and transformed.

Which statement relates most directly to the second law?

1
2
3
4

Answer 1

The statement that relates most directly to the second law of thermodynamics is:

2 - Some thermal energy is lost and some is used to do work.

The second law of thermodynamics primarily addresses the concept of energy dispersion and the direction of thermal energy flow, indicating that not all energy can be converted into work and that some energy is dissipated as waste heat. Statement 2 captures this idea of energy conversion and loss.