Laws of Thermodynamics

Question 1

What are the 2 Laws of Thermodynamics?

Answer 1

1. Law of Conservation of Energy.

2. Law of enthropy.

Question 2

What does the Law of Conservation of Energy state?

Answer 2

• Energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it can be transferred or transformed.

Question 3

What happens when energy/matter undergo transformations or transfers?

Answer 3

In all transformations or transfers, some heat energy is lost into the environment.

Question 4

What does the Law of Entropy states?

Answer 4

ENTROPY = chaos.

• The entropy of an isolated system not in equilibrium will tend to increase over time.
• Energy conversions are never efficient. Heat energy is always lost into the environment during transformations/transfers.
• Entropy cannot decrease.
• Over time, energy is always used up.

Energy = work + heat (and other waste products.

Question 5

What percentage of energy is lost from one trophic level to another?

Answer 5

90%

Question 6

What is ENTROPY?

Answer 6

The measure of a system’s thermal energy per unit.

It is the temperature that is unavailable for doing useful work.

Question 7

Summary of Entropy law:

Answer 7

The total entropy of the universe must alwas increase when there is disequilibrium,

Question 8

Energy in a food chain:

Answer 8

• Only 10% of energy is passed from a living being to another

Question 9

Energy in a food chain:

Answer 9

• Only 10% of energy is passed from a living being to another.
• 90% of energy is lost to the environment.
• For that reason, in terrestrial ecosystems, there are no more than 4 trophic levels.