Question

Which of the following is an example that shows the first and second laws of thermodynamics being followed?

A. The temperatures throughout the day increase until 2:00pm.
B. During the low evening temperatures, several birds fly down and land on the branches of a tree.
C. A wind turbine warms as a strong gust spins the blades to generate electricity.
D. A room gets warmer because the thermostat was adjusted.

Answer 1

D. A room gets warmer because the thermostat was adjusted.

Step-by-step explanation:

A room gets warmer because the thermostat was adjusted.

The first law of thermodynamics states that energy can be transferred within a system or lost from the system, but energy cannot be created or destroyed. In example D, energy is being transferred from a heat source (likely a furnace) to the room, causing the temperature to increase.

The second law of thermodynamics states that as energy is transferred or transformed, more of it is wasted as heat. In example D, some of the energy from the furnace is likely being lost as heat through the walls, floors, and ceiling of the room.

Overall, example D shows energy being transferred from a furnace to a room, causing the room temperature to increase, while some energy is lost as waste heat. This follows the general principles of the first and second laws of thermodynamics.

The other examples do not demonstrate the specific principles of energy transfer, conservation of energy, and waste of energy as heat as clearly as example D.

Answer 2

The example that shows the first and second laws of thermodynamics being followed is option D: A room gets warmer because the thermostat was adjusted.

The first law of thermodynamics, also known as the law of conservation of energy, states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another. In this example, the energy required to increase the temperature of the room comes from the adjustment of the thermostat, which converts electrical energy into heat energy.

The second law of thermodynamics states that in any energy transfer or conversion, the total entropy (a measure of disorder) of an isolated system always increases over time. In the case of the room getting warmer due to thermostat adjustment, the energy transfer from the heating system to the room increases the entropy of the system.

Therefore, option D demonstrates the first and second laws of thermodynamics being followed.