A steer must eat at least 100 pounds of grain to gain less than 10 pounds of muscle tissue. This illustrates
A) the first law of thermodynamics.
B) the second law of thermodynamics.
C) that some energy is destroyed in every energy conversion.
D) that energy transformations are typically 100% efficient.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This statement illustrates the second law of thermodynamics, which states that each energy transfer or transformation increases the entropy of the universe. In this case, the energy from the grain is not efficiently converted to muscle tissue, and some of it is lost as heat and other forms of energy, increasing the overall entropy of the system.

A Steer Must Eat at Least 100 Pounds of Grain