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From: morse@leadsv.UUCP (Terry Morse)
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: Re: My "FUSION this decade?" this article
Message-ID: <539@leadsv.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 25-Jul-85 15:11:50 EDT
Article-I.D.: leadsv.539
Posted: Thu Jul 25 15:11:50 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 28-Jul-85 06:54:19 EDT
References: <291@greipa.UUCP> <694@charm.UUCP> <330@dcl-cs.UUCP>
Organization: Lockheed, Sunnyvale CA
Lines: 27
Summary: I just love 2nd law discussions

> >... (I know, space heaters are 100% efficient, but they don't
>                                     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> 
> Ahem , forgive me if i'm wrong but if I remember my thermodynamics
> correctly ( and I will undoubtedly be corrected if wrong ) surely
> a little thing called entropy prevents ANY transfer of energy from
> being 100% efficient.
>     I haven't got my notes but I think it's the 2nd Law of 
> Thermodynamics ( again correct me if I'm wrong ) states that entropy
> always increases.
> 
I just love it when someone brings up a thermo question in net.physics.
The answer to the above question is that energy transfer can be 100%
efficient, as are resistive heaters.  The second law only specifies that
the total entropy *after* the energy transfer will be greater.  This is
the same as saying the energy transfer is a one way process (irreversible).
100 Joules of electrical power can generate 100 Joules of thermal energy,
but 100 Joules of thermal energy can never generate 100 Joules of
electrical energy.

After having said that, space heaters are a stupid waste of electricity.
There are so many cheaper ways of generating heat.
-- 

Terry Morse  (408)743-1487

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