2nd Law of Thermodynamics

Definition

The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics states that in any natural process, the total entropy of a closed system always increases or remains constant. It implies that energy tends to disperse and systems tend to move towards a state of greater disorder.

Related terms

Entropy:

Entropy is a measure of the disorder or randomness in a system. It quantifies how much energy has dispersed or how many different ways energy can be distributed within a system.

Carnot cycle: The Carnot cycle is an idealized thermodynamic cycle that consists of four reversible processes (two adiabatic and two isothermal) used as a benchmark for maximum efficiency in heat engines.

Heat engine: A heat engine is a device that converts thermal energy into mechanical work by exploiting temperature differences between a hot reservoir and a cold reservoir.