Question

Which law of thermodynamics does each of the following scenarios violate (if any)?

A machine that can turn 1000J of heat directly into 1000J of electricity
1.
The first law of thermodynamics
2.
The second law of thermodynamics
3.
The third law of thermodynamics
4.
It is allowed

Answer 1

Answer: The scenario violates the second law of thermodynamics.

Explanation: The second law states that heat cannot be converted into work without some loss of usable energy, and that the amount of usable energy in a closed system will always decrease over time. Therefore, the machine described in the scenario cannot exist because it would violate the second law by converting all of the heat into electricity without any loss of usable energy.