"thermodynamics" comes from two main words "thermo," meaning heat, and "dynamic," meaning power. So, the Laws of Thermodynamics are the Laws of heat power. All things in the universe are affected by Laws of Thermodynamics.

According to the Second Law of Thermodynamics when there is a transfer of energy from one form to another, useful energy is lost. Like in vehicles, much of the energy of their engines is lost in overcoming friction rather than setting the vehicle in motion. When light energy is transformed into chemical energy in green plants by photosynthesis most of the light energy is not actually transformed into chemical energy in animals, when the animals eat the plants, but is lost in the environment.

The Second Law of thermodynamics applies to our daily lives. When we take in food and oxygen, complex biochemicals in our bodies are synthesized and we run our bodies and use some of that energy, both physically and mentally, and the rest is lost as body heat and sweat.

Applications

Question: How does the Second Law of Thermodynamics help in the working of a refrigerator? (See answer below.)

Answer: In our homes every 15 minutes or so we hear the motors of our fridge turn on. This motor helps

keep everything cold in the fridge. In these fridges there is a cycle that is carried on continuously. The fridge is kept cool by various components of the fridge. The compressor compresses the ammonia gas. Heat is lost to the environment according to the Second Law of Thermodynamics as some is lost as heat. The coils on the back of the refrigerator help the hot ammonia gas scatter its heat to the environment, and the gas condenses into ammonia liquid at high pressure. This liquid flows through the expansion valve. The liquid ammonia absorbs heat from its surroundings and immediately boils and vaporizes. This makes the inside of the refrigerator cold. The cold ammonia gas is sucked up by the compressor, and the cycle repeats to keep the fridge cool.

Reflections on the Motive Power of Fire: And Other Papers on the Second Law of Thermodynamics

The title essay, along with related papers in this volume, laid the foundation of modern thermodynamics. Highly readable, it contains no arguments that depend on calculus. Translation of 1890 edition.

Reflections on the Motive Power of Fire: And Other Papers on the Second Law of Thermodynamics

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Mohit Ghai