Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)
Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN: 9780133923001
Author: Gerald Audesirk, Teresa Audesirk, Bruce E. Byers
Publisher: PEARSON
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Chapter 6, Problem 1AC

While vacuuming, you show off by telling a friend that you are using electrical energy to create a lower-entropy state. She replies that you are taking advantage of increasing solar entropy. Explain this conversation.

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Summary Introduction

To explain:

The conversation between two friends. One of them claims that electrical energy is used to create lower entropy state while other replied that taking the advantage of increasing solar entropy.

Introduction:

The entropy indicates the amount of disorganization or randomness of molecules in a closed system. The entropy is low in organized molecules (for example glucose) and the entropy is high in disorganized molecules (for example carbon dioxide and water).

Explanation of Solution

The second law of thermodynamics states that the energy can change from one form to another with the loss of some usable energy. According to the second law of thermodynamics, the amount of energy released is not used for any mechanical work.

Vacuum cleaner uses electrical energy to create lower entropy state, which means that most of the energy is being utilized for mechanical work with least loss of entropy. This situation determines the lower entropy, where the maximum amount of electrical energy is utilized for mechanical work.

Solar entropy is that form of energy which is not used for mechanical work. So, the use of vacuum cleaner utilizes electrical energy which releases some amount of solar energy in the form of heat, which results in the increase of entropy.

Conclusion

Vacuum cleaner utilized electrical energy for mechanical work with least loss of energy. This results in the decrease of entropy. While solar entropy causes the release of energy which results in an increase of entropy.

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Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)

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