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Physics
Classical Physics
Thermodynamics
How is the 2nd law of thermodynamics obeyed in this system?
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[QUOTE="Dale, post: 6098747, member: 43978"] It is not only the area, but also the solid angle or view factor which is important. Suppose that you have a small flat source radiating thermal energy. It does not send its energy in a sharp beam normal to the surface, but it sends it out over all ##2\pi## steradians. If a receiving surface only covers ##1\pi## steradian then the “view factor” is 0.5 and only half of the energy emitted by the first surface is received by the second surface. Due to geometry you are guaranteed that any increase in area is associated with a decrease in view factor. So although you can make a large area exchange energy with a small area, only a small portion of the large area’s energy can exchange while a large portion of the small area’s energy will exchange. The product of the area and the view factor are the same on both sides. The net result is that the exchange is geometrically guaranteed equal at thermal equilibrium. [/QUOTE]
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Forums
Physics
Classical Physics
Thermodynamics
How is the 2nd law of thermodynamics obeyed in this system?
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