Entropy change in an isolated system

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the entropy change in an isolated system where a solid with constant heat capacity at initial temperature To is brought into contact with a hotter reservoir at temperature T1. The participants conclude that the total change in entropy of the universe is positive, as the positive change in entropy of the solid outweighs the negative change in entropy of the reservoir. The calculations for entropy change are provided as dS = dQ/To for the solid and dS = -dQ/T1 for the reservoir, confirming that the entropy change of the reservoir is less than that of the solid due to the temperature difference.

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  • Understanding of thermodynamics principles, specifically entropy.
  • Familiarity with heat transfer concepts in isolated systems.
  • Knowledge of calculus for integrating temperature changes.
  • Basic understanding of the laws of thermodynamics.
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indie452
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hi I am having a few conception problems with entropy

problem:
a solid with constant heat capacity and initial temp To, is brought in contact with hotter reservoir temp T1 and allowed to come into equilibrium. This is all isolated.

a) is the change in the entropy of the universe negative zero or positive thanks to the systems process. explain why
b) calculate entropy change to solid
c) calculate entropy change to reservoir

a) i would have thought that the entropy change of the universe is zero because entropy change is dQ/T and the change in Q for both systems is the same (for the solid its +ve and reservoir -ve)

b) dS = dQ/To
c) dS = -dQ/T1

is this right?
 
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indie452 said:
hi I am having a few conception problems with entropy

problem:
a solid with constant heat capacity and initial temp To, is brought in contact with hotter reservoir temp T1 and allowed to come into equilibrium. This is all isolated.

a) is the change in the entropy of the universe negative zero or positive thanks to the systems process. explain why
b) calculate entropy change to solid
c) calculate entropy change to reservoir

a) i would have thought that the entropy change of the universe is zero because entropy change is dQ/T and the change in Q for both systems is the same (for the solid its +ve and reservoir -ve)
The heat flow out of the reservoir is at the higher reservoir temperature.

The total heat flow out of the reservoir (negative) has to be equal in magnitude to the (positive) heat flow into the solid. But since the temperature of the solid is always less than that of the reservoir, the change in entropy of the reservoir (dS = dQ/T), which is negative, will have a smaller magnitude than the positive change in entropy of the solid. So the total change in entropy will be greater than 0.

b) dS = dQ/To
c) dS = -dQ/T1

is this right?
That is the initial differential change in entropy. The total change is:

[tex]\Delta S = \Delta S_{res} + \Delta S_{sol}[/tex]

where:

(1) [tex]\Delta S_{res} = \int_{T_{ir}}^{T_{fr}} m_{res}C_{res}\frac{dT}{T} = m_{res}C_{res}\ln{\frac{T_{fr}}{T_{ir}}[/tex]

and

(2) [tex]\Delta S_{sol} = \int_{T_{is}}^{T_{fs}} m_{sol}C_{sol}\frac{dT}{T} = m_{sol}C_{sol}\ln{\frac{T_{fs}}{T_{is}}[/tex]AM
 

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