2nd Law of Thermodynamics
Each list begins with basic conceptual vocabulary you need to know for MCAT questions and proceeds to advanced terms that might appear in context in MCAT passages. The terms are links to Wikipedia articles.
Second law of thermodynamics
The second law of thermodynamics is an expression of the universal law of increasing entropy, stating that the entropy of an isolated system which is not in equilibrium will tend to increase over time, approaching a maximum value at equilibrium.
The second law of thermodynamics is an expression of the universal law of increasing entropy, stating that the entropy of an isolated system which is not in equilibrium will tend to increase over time, approaching a maximum value at equilibrium.
Carnot cycle
The Carnot cycle represents the most efficient cycle possible for converting a given amount of thermal energy into work or, conversely, for using a given amount of work for refrigeration purposes.
The Carnot cycle represents the most efficient cycle possible for converting a given amount of thermal energy into work or, conversely, for using a given amount of work for refrigeration purposes.
Thermodynamic cycle
A thermodynamic cycle is a series of thermodynamic processes which returns a system to its initial state.
A thermodynamic cycle is a series of thermodynamic processes which returns a system to its initial state.
Entropy
Entropy is a measure of the unavailability of a system's energy to do work.
Entropy is a measure of the unavailability of a system's energy to do work.
Thermodynamic equilibrium
A thermodynamic system is said to be in thermodynamic equilibrium when it's state is characterized by the minimum of a thermodynamic potential, such as the Helmholtz free energy.
A thermodynamic system is said to be in thermodynamic equilibrium when it's state is characterized by the minimum of a thermodynamic potential, such as the Helmholtz free energy.
Heat engine
A heat engine is a physical or theoretical device that converts thermal energy to mechanical output.
A heat engine is a physical or theoretical device that converts thermal energy to mechanical output.
Reversible process
A reversible process, or reversible cycle if the process is cyclic, is a process that can be reversed by means of infinitesimal changes in some property of the system without loss or dissipation of energy.
A reversible process, or reversible cycle if the process is cyclic, is a process that can be reversed by means of infinitesimal changes in some property of the system without loss or dissipation of energy.
Refrigeration
Refrigeration is the process of removing heat from an enclosed space, or from a substance, and rejecting it elsewhere in order to lower the temperature of the enclosed space or substance and then maintain that lower temperature.
Refrigeration is the process of removing heat from an enclosed space, or from a substance, and rejecting it elsewhere in order to lower the temperature of the enclosed space or substance and then maintain that lower temperature.
Heat pump
A heat pump is a machine or device that moves heat from one location to another via work.
A heat pump is a machine or device that moves heat from one location to another via work.
Coefficient of performance
The coefficient of performance of a heat pump is the ratio of the output heat to the supplied work
The coefficient of performance of a heat pump is the ratio of the output heat to the supplied work
Thermal efficiency
The thermal efficiency is a dimensionless performance measure of a thermal device such as an internal combustion engine, a boiler, or a furnace.
The thermal efficiency is a dimensionless performance measure of a thermal device such as an internal combustion engine, a boiler, or a furnace.
Carnot's theorem
Carnot's theorem sets a limit on the maximum amount of efficiency any possible engine can obtain based on the difference between the hot and cold reservoir temperatures.
Carnot's theorem sets a limit on the maximum amount of efficiency any possible engine can obtain based on the difference between the hot and cold reservoir temperatures.
Third law of thermodynamics
The third law of thermodynamics is an axiom of nature regarding entropy and the impossibility of reaching absolute zero of temperature.
The third law of thermodynamics is an axiom of nature regarding entropy and the impossibility of reaching absolute zero of temperature.
Entropy
In thermodynamics, entropy is often associated with the amount of order, disorder, and or chaos in a thermodynamic system.
In thermodynamics, entropy is often associated with the amount of order, disorder, and or chaos in a thermodynamic system.
Entropy
The thermodynamic concept of entropy can be described qualitatively as a measure of energy dispersal at a specific temperature.
The thermodynamic concept of entropy can be described qualitatively as a measure of energy dispersal at a specific temperature.
Dissipation
Dissipation embodies the concept of a dynamical system where important mechanical modes, such as waves or oscillations, lose energy over time, typically due to the action of friction or turbulence.
Dissipation embodies the concept of a dynamical system where important mechanical modes, such as waves or oscillations, lose energy over time, typically due to the action of friction or turbulence.
Isentropic process
In thermodynamics, an isentropic process is one during which the entropy of the system remains constant.
In thermodynamics, an isentropic process is one during which the entropy of the system remains constant.
Probability distribution
A probability distribution is a probability measure defined over a state space instead of the sample space.
A probability distribution is a probability measure defined over a state space instead of the sample space.
Statistical thermodynamics
Statistical thermodynamics is the study of the microscopic behaviors of thermodynamic systems using probability theory.
Statistical thermodynamics is the study of the microscopic behaviors of thermodynamic systems using probability theory.
Rudolf Clausius
Rudolf Clausius (1822 - 1888), was a German physicist and mathematician considered one of the central founders of the science of thermodynamics. His restatement of Carnot's principle put the theory of heat on sounder basis.
Rudolf Clausius (1822 - 1888), was a German physicist and mathematician considered one of the central founders of the science of thermodynamics. His restatement of Carnot's principle put the theory of heat on sounder basis.
Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot
Nicolas Carnot (1796 - 1832) was a French physicist and military engineer who gave the first successful theoretical account of heat engines, thereby laying the foundations of the second law of thermodynamics.
Nicolas Carnot (1796 - 1832) was a French physicist and military engineer who gave the first successful theoretical account of heat engines, thereby laying the foundations of the second law of thermodynamics.
William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin
William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, (1824 - 1907) was a British mathematical physicist and engineer who did important work in the mathematical analysis of electricity and thermodynamics. He is widely known for developing the scale of absolute temperature measurement.
William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, (1824 - 1907) was a British mathematical physicist and engineer who did important work in the mathematical analysis of electricity and thermodynamics. He is widely known for developing the scale of absolute temperature measurement.
Quasistatic process
A quasistatic process is a thermodynamic process that happens infinitely slowly, which in practice, can be approximated by performing the process very slowly.
A quasistatic process is a thermodynamic process that happens infinitely slowly, which in practice, can be approximated by performing the process very slowly.
Waste heat
Waste heat refers to heat produced by machines and technical processes for which no useful application is found.
Waste heat refers to heat produced by machines and technical processes for which no useful application is found.
Microstate
In statistical mechanics, a microstate describes a specific detailed microscopic configuration of a system, that the system visits in the course of its thermal fluctuations.
In statistical mechanics, a microstate describes a specific detailed microscopic configuration of a system, that the system visits in the course of its thermal fluctuations.
Maxwell's demon
Maxwell's demon was an 1867 thought experiment by the Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell, meant to raise questions about the possibility of violating the second law of thermodynamics.
Maxwell's demon was an 1867 thought experiment by the Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell, meant to raise questions about the possibility of violating the second law of thermodynamics.
Recuperator
A recuperator is a special purpose counter-flow heat exchanger used to recover waste heat from exhaust gases.
A recuperator is a special purpose counter-flow heat exchanger used to recover waste heat from exhaust gases.
Thermal expansion valve
A thermal expansion valve is a component in an air conditioning system that controls the rate at which liquid refrigerant can flow into an evaporator.
A thermal expansion valve is a component in an air conditioning system that controls the rate at which liquid refrigerant can flow into an evaporator.
Steam turbine
A steam turbine is a mechanical device that extracts thermal energy from pressurized steam, and converts it into useful mechanical work. It has almost completely replaced the reciprocating piston steam engine.
A steam turbine is a mechanical device that extracts thermal energy from pressurized steam, and converts it into useful mechanical work. It has almost completely replaced the reciprocating piston steam engine.
Geometrical frustration
Geometrical frustration is a phenomenon in condensed matter physics in which the geometrical properties of the atomic lattice forbid the existence of a unique ground state, resulting in a nonzero residual entropy.
Geometrical frustration is a phenomenon in condensed matter physics in which the geometrical properties of the atomic lattice forbid the existence of a unique ground state, resulting in a nonzero residual entropy.
Zero-point energy
The zero-point energy is the lowest possible energy that a quantum mechanical physical system may possess and is the energy of the ground state of the system.
The zero-point energy is the lowest possible energy that a quantum mechanical physical system may possess and is the energy of the ground state of the system.
Magnetic refrigeration
Magnetic refrigeration is a cooling technology based on the magnetocaloric effect which can be used to attain extremely low temperatures (well below 1 kelvin).
Magnetic refrigeration is a cooling technology based on the magnetocaloric effect which can be used to attain extremely low temperatures (well below 1 kelvin).
Stirling engine
In the family of heat engines, Stirling engine defines a closed-cycle regenerative hot air engine, though the term is often used incorrectly to refer generically to a much wider range of hot air engine types.
In the family of heat engines, Stirling engine defines a closed-cycle regenerative hot air engine, though the term is often used incorrectly to refer generically to a much wider range of hot air engine types.
Watt steam engine
The Watt steam engine was the first type of steam engine to make use of steam at a pressure above atmospheric.
The Watt steam engine was the first type of steam engine to make use of steam at a pressure above atmospheric.
Statistical ensemble
A statistical ensemble is an idealization consisting of a large number of mental copies of a system, considered all at once, each of which represents a possible state that the real system might be in.
A statistical ensemble is an idealization consisting of a large number of mental copies of a system, considered all at once, each of which represents a possible state that the real system might be in.
Ergodic hypothesis
The ergodic hypothesis says that all accessible microstates are equally probable over a long period of time.
The ergodic hypothesis says that all accessible microstates are equally probable over a long period of time.
