Which is a statement of the second law of thermodynamics?
A) The energy of the universe is constant.
B) The entropy of the universe is constant.
C) The enthalpy of the universe is constant.
D) The energy of the universe is decreasing.
E) The entropy of the universe is increasing.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The second law of thermodynamics states that the entropy of the universe tends to increase over time. Therefore, option E is the correct choice. Option A is incorrect because it refers to the first law of thermodynamics. Option B is incorrect because although entropy can remain constant in a system, it cannot remain constant in the whole universe. Option C is incorrect because enthalpy is a measure of heat energy, but does not take into account the potential for disorder or entropy. Option D is incorrect because the energy of the universe is not decreasing, but rather it is being transformed or converted from one form to another.

Which Is a Statement of the Second Law of Thermodynamics