Kelvin-Plank’s law deals withSelect one:a)conservation of heatb)...
Kelvin-Plank statement of the second law of thermodynamics states that it is impossible to devise a cyclically operating device, the sole effect of which is to absorb energy in the form of heat from a single thermal reservoir and to deliver an equivalent amount of work.
The correct answer is: conversion of heat into work
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Kelvin-Plank’s law deals withSelect one:a)conservation of heatb)...
Kelvin-Plank’s Law and its Concept
Kelvin-Plank's law deals with the conversion of heat into work. This law states that it is impossible to construct a device that operates in a cycle and produces no effect other than the transfer of heat from a single reservoir to a second reservoir while performing an equivalent amount of work.
Explanation of Kelvin-Plank’s Law
- According to this law, heat cannot be completely converted into work without any other effect. Some heat will always be lost in the form of waste heat.
- This law forms the basis of the second law of thermodynamics, which deals with the efficiency of heat engines.
- It implies that a heat engine must have a thermal reservoir at a lower temperature to release waste heat in order to convert some of the input heat into work.
- The law also indicates that it is impossible to have a perpetual motion machine that produces work without any energy input.
- Kelvin-Plank's law sets a limit on the efficiency of heat engines, known as the Carnot efficiency, which depends on the temperatures of the heat source and sink.
Significance of Kelvin-Plank’s Law
- This law is crucial in understanding the limitations of heat engines and the conversion of heat energy into useful work.
- It provides a fundamental principle in thermodynamics that guides the design and operation of various energy conversion systems.
- By following this law, engineers and scientists can optimize the performance of heat engines and other devices that involve the conversion of heat energy.
In conclusion, Kelvin-Plank's law plays a significant role in defining the efficiency and limitations of heat engines, highlighting the relationship between heat transfer and work output in thermodynamic systems.