Equivalence of the Kelvin-Planck statement of the second law and the principle of entropy increase
Abstract
We present a demonstration of the equivalence between the Kelvin-Planck statement of the second law and the principle of entropy increase. Despite the fundamental importance of these two statements, a rigorous treatment to establish their equivalence is missing in standard physics textbooks. The argument is valid under very general conditions, but is simple and suited to an undergraduate course.
- Publication:
-
European Journal of Physics
- Pub Date:
- September 2016
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0143-0807/37/5/055103
- Bibcode:
- 2016EJPh...37e5103S