what is the second law of thermodynamics

The second Law of thermodynamics explained

The second law of thermodynamics asserts that heat cannot move from a reservoir of lower temperature to a reservoir of higher temperature in a cyclic process. Rudolf Clausius, a physicist who first formulated the law, stated that “a cyclic transformation whose only final result is to transfer heat from a body at a given temperature to a body at a higher temperature is impossible.” The law describes the amount of work that can result from a transfer of heat

What are some applications of the second law of thermodynamics?

One notable example of the second law of thermodynamics is the heat engine model. Heat engines involve a cycle of increasing and decreasing temperatures that move a piston. The second law of thermodynamics dictates the amount of work that the changing temperatures in a heat engine can produce. The law is often applied to various types of engine

How does the second law of thermodynamics relate to biology?

The second law of thermodynamics posits that the transfer of energy involves some released as heat. This inefficient energy transfer plays a role in many biological systems. In food chains, energy escapes as heat between trophic levels, with consumers gaining only a small percentage of the energy stored in their food. On the cellular level, the energy required to maintain the complex structure of a cell increases entropy in the outside environment.

Does the second law of thermodynamics disprove evolution?

Some have contended that the second law of thermodynamics disproves evolution because the law stipulates that entropy always increases, whereas evolution into complex beings constitutes a decrease in entropy. However, evolutionists explain that the second law applies only to systems with no external energy sources. Since Earth receives energy from the Sun, the law does not seem to contradict the theory of evolution.