Question

The second law of thermodynamics means that ____.

a) the entropy of an isolated system can decrease

Yes/No

b) the entropy of a system can decrease if the entropy of its surrounding increases by a larger amount Yes/No

c) heat can spontaneously flow from a colder body to a hotter body

Yes/No

d) a system tends to go to a final state which has a smaller number of possible mechanical states

Yes/No

Answer 1

a) No

Explanation:- According to second law of thermodynamics, the total entropy of an isolated system can never decrease over time. The entropy is constant only if all the processes are reversible.

b) Yes.

Explanation:- The total entropy of the system and surrounding remains constant only in ideal cases (reversible process). In all other real processes the net entropy of the system and surrounding increases.

  

c) No

Explanation:- Heat can never spontaneously flow from a colder body to a hotter body. It can only be done by doing some external work on the system.

d) Yes.

Explanation:- A system always tends to go to a stable state; i.e., which has a smaller number of possible mechanical states.