LEARN MORE...

Studypool

Content type

User Generated

Subject

Physics

Type

Homework

Uploaded By

758gevonf

Pages

Showing Page:

1/3

Thermodynamics Self Directed Study

We will be using a 36 minute video called Thermodynamics and the End of the Universe at

“https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOrWy_yNBvY” to complete the first part of this study.

Answer each of the following questions directly on this document. Then save the

document, and upload it into the Turnitin Dropbox as a word processed file.

Part 1: Thermodynamics and the End of the Universe.

1. What is the first law of Thermodynamics?

The first law says that energy can never be created or destroyed, remaining always

constant.

2. How does the first law of thermodynamics apply to suns and stars?

They have a limited amount of energy, which is emitted as radiation.

3. Describe the energy box analogy.

Energy is thought of as boxes that can be transferred from one body to another.

4. Explain the statement, “Objects at higher elevation create more motion when they fall.”

These objects have higher gravitational potential energy, which is converted to kinetic

energy when falling.

5. Define temperature in terms of energy.

It’s the energy per particle inside an object.

6. How is energy conserved when friction is involved in a situation?

The energy lost by an object slowing down by friction is gained by the individual particles

as they heat up.

7. What is the “hidden form of energy” that all life and technology depends on?

It’s the chemical energy contained in the food and fuels.

8. How is energy related to atomic bonds?

Energy is absorbed and released when a molecule forms or destroys a bond, respectively.

9. How is mass related to energy?

Mass is one of many forms of energy, as Einstein discovered.

10. Explain the statement, “Energy boxes do not actually exist.”

It means we can never truly see energy directly, only its effects.

11. How is energy “observed”? Give two examples.

A car’s speed and a spring compressed.

12. Explain the statement, “Energy can flow backwards in time in exactly the same way that it

flows forward in time”.

Even if things happened backwards, no physical law is broken.

13. What prevents energy from actually flowing backwards in time?

The second law of thermodynamics.

14. What does it mean for a situation to have higher entropy?

Showing Page:

2/3

It means that the situation has more ways of happening, that is, it’s most likely to happen.

15. What is the second law of thermodynamics?

The entropy of the universe can only go up.

16. How is entropy related to energy? (Use the flow of heat energy to help you)

Entropy is the highest when energy is spread out among every particle, for instance a

colder body, which has less energy, absorbs energy from a warmer body, more

energetic, until both have the same temperature.

17. How can the total entropy of the universe increase when a complex object is put together?

To put together a complex object, energy must be added and some is converted into heat,

increasing the entropy since energy is dispersed. This offsets the decrease in entropy

caused by the object itself.

18. Describe how engines and life forms can keep operating.

They must dissipate some heat to a colder object.

19. What happens when objects reach the same temperature?

No engine or life form can continue to operate.

20. How do refrigeration and air conditioning work?

They extract heat from a cold body and dissipate it into a warm body.

21. How is the second law of thermodynamics not violated by refrigeration and air conditioning?

There’s addition of energy into the system compensating the decrease in entropy.

22. Why is a “perpetual motion machine” impossible?

The refrigerator always requires more energy than the engine can supply.

23. Why are all energy sources limited?

The energy dissipated as heat can never be regained and used again. Other sources, like

fuel, will always reach an end.

24. What is the fundamental problem with moving to a new solar system?

Although the new solar will have a large amount of energy available, it will also eventually

run out, and a new move will be needed.

25. How does the second law of thermodynamics explain the end of the Universe? (at least with

the laws of physics as we currently understand them)

At some point, the useful sources of energy will be depleted and all life forms will

eventually vanish.

Showing Page:

3/3

Unformatted Attachment Preview

Thermodynamics Self Directed Study We will be using a 36 minute video called Thermodynamics and the End of the Universe at “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOrWy_yNBvY” to complete the first part of this study. Answer each of the following questions directly on this document. Then save the document, and upload it into the Turnitin Dropbox as a word processed file. Part 1: Thermodynamics and the End of the Universe. 1. What is the first law of Thermodynamics? The first law says that energy can never be created or destroyed, remaining always constant. 2. How does the first law of thermodynamics apply to suns and stars? They have a limited amount of energy, which is emitted as radiation. 3. Describe the energy box analogy. Energy is thought of as boxes that can be transferred from one body to another. 4. Explain the statement, “Objects at higher elevation create more motion when they ...
Purchase document to see full attachment

Tags: Second Law of Thermodynamics entropy of the universe complex object refrigeration and air conditioning violated by refrigeration