MEPX
Chapter 8 of 10All chapters
  1. 1Heat and temperature
  2. 2The first law
  3. 3The second law
  4. 4Engines and efficiency
  5. 5How heat moves
  6. 6Gases
  7. 7Phase changes
  8. 8Thermodynamics in the world
  9. 9The statistical view
  10. 10Time and the universe

Chapter 8 of 10

Thermodynamics in the world

Where the laws show up.

Everyday

Insulation, cooking, weather, engines, batteries, computers throttling under load. Any process involving energy obeys these rules and is usually limited by them.

  • Data centres spend a large share of their power removing heat.
  • Efficiency labels on appliances are thermodynamics translated into shopping.

Living things

Organisms build order locally and dump entropy into their surroundings as heat and waste. Life does not break the second law; it pays for its order in energy.