5
QuizMultiple Choice

Second Law of Thermodynamics

Question 5 • 25-26 CHEMISTRY IN THE EARTH SYSTEM S1

Which best describes the first law of thermodynamics as compared to the second law of thermodynamics?

Answer
A
The first law describes how thermal energy is conserved but not the direction it moves.
B
The first law describes the direction thermal energy moves but not how it is conserved.
C
The first law describes how thermal energy can be created but not how it can be destroyed.
D
The first law describes how thermal energy can be destroyed but not how it can be created.

Explanation

The first law of thermodynamics is the conservation of energy: energy can change form or transfer between objects, but the total amount is conserved. It does not say which direction heat will naturally flow; the second law explains that heat flows spontaneously from hotter objects to colder ones. Therefore, choice A, “The first law describes how thermal energy is conserved but not the direction it moves,” is correct.

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