Chapter 8, Problem 6A

Summary Introduction

Introduction :

All the living organisms and even viruses require energy to carry out all the life activities. Energy is the capacity to do work. According to the first law of thermodynamics, energy cannot be created nor destroyed but it can be converted from one form to another. But energy cannot be converted without the loss of usable energy. The “lost” energy is generally converted to thermal energy and the measure of the unusable energy or disorder is called entropy.

Answer to Problem 6A

Correct answer :

The correct answer is option (D) changes spontaneously from disorder to order.

Explanation of Solution

Explanation/justification for the correct answer :

Option (D) changes spontaneously from disorder to order. According to the second law of thermodynamics, the energy cannot be converted without the loss of usable energy and entropy is the measure of disorder or unusable energy in a system. Therefore, spontaneous energy changes from disorder to order is not a characteristic of energy. Thus, the correct answer is option (D).

The explanation for the incorrect answer :

Option (A) cannot be created nor be destroyed. According to the first law of thermodynamics, energy cannot be created nor destroyed is tone of the characteristics of energy. Thus, this is an incorrect option.

Option (B) is the capacity to do work. Living organisms require energy to do work. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.

Option (C) exist in forms such as chemical, light, and mechanical energy. Energy can change its form. For example, energy stored in food is converted to chemical energy when we eat and to mechanical energy when we work. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.