Laws of Thermodynamics - MCAT Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

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Question

An air conditioning unit is supplied with power to effectively cool an entire house without generating heat.

Which law(s) of thermodynamics is(are) violated?

I. The first law

II. The second law

III. The third law

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Answer

The first law of thermodynamics, conservation of energy, is not violated since the refrigerator is merely transforming electrical energy into work.

The second law of thermodynamics, increase of entropy, is violated since the entropy of a cooled house is lower, but there is no corresponding increase in entropy elsewhere. In order to cool an object in the system, and object in the surroundings must be heated.

The third law of thermodynamics deals with absolute zero and is not relevant.

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