To find:
How a steam engine is an example of the second law of thermodynamics?
Step-by-step explanation:
The second law of thermodynamics has more than one statement.
Kelvin-Plank statement:
No process is possible whose sole result is to convert the heat absorbed completely into useful work.
Clausius statement:
No process is possible whose sole result is the transfer of heat from a colder object to a hotter object.
Both of the statements are equivalent.
A steam engine takes the heat from a hot reservoir and converts some parts of it into useful work and the rest of the heat absorbed will be sent to a cold reservoir. Thus the steam engine is an example of the 2nd law of thermodynamics.