Blundell Thermal Physics · Problem 13.3

Heat engines and the second law

Physics — Statistical Mechanics · perpetual-motion-second-law

Problem

The history of science is littered with various schemes for producing perpetual motion. A machine that does this is sometimes referred to as a perpetuum mobile, which is the Latin term for a perpetual motion machine. • A perpetual motion machine of the first kind produces more energy than it uses. • A perpetual motion machine of the second kind produces exactly the same amount of energy as it uses, but it continues running forever indefinitely by converting all its waste heat back into mechanical work. Give a critique of these two types of machine and state which laws of thermodynamics they each break, if any.

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