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Entropy & Irreversibility

Entropy (S) measures disorder and energy dispersal in a system, with key properties including being a state function and extensive. The Second Law states that entropy increases in irreversible processes and remains constant in reversible, adiabatic processes. Irreversibility occurs due to finite temperature differences, friction, and other factors, leading to entropy generation that is always greater than or equal to zero.

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191 views3 pages

Entropy & Irreversibility

Entropy (S) measures disorder and energy dispersal in a system, with key properties including being a state function and extensive. The Second Law states that entropy increases in irreversible processes and remains constant in reversible, adiabatic processes. Irreversibility occurs due to finite temperature differences, friction, and other factors, leading to entropy generation that is always greater than or equal to zero.

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📘 Topic 9: Entropy & Irreversibility

🔹 What is Entropy?
Entropy (S) is a measure of the disorder, randomness, or energy dispersal
in a system.

●​ Thermodynamically: relates to heat transfer and temperature​

●​ Statistically: relates to the number of microscopic configurations​

dS=δQrevT(for a reversible process)\boxed{dS = \frac{\delta Q_{rev}}{T}} \quad \text{(for a


reversible process)}

🔹 Key Properties of Entropy


●​ State function: depends only on state, not path​

●​ Extensive: depends on system size (but specific entropy is intensive)​

●​ Units: J/K or kJ/kg·K​

🔹 Second Law & Entropy


●​ Entropy increases in real, irreversible processes.​

●​ Entropy is constant in reversible, adiabatic (isentropic) processes.​

●​ For isolated systems, entropy never decreases.​

ΔSuniverse≥0\Delta S_{\text{universe}} \geq 0

🔹 Entropy Change in Ideal Gases


ΔS=mCvln⁡T2T1+mRln⁡V2V1\Delta S = mC_v \ln \frac{T_2}{T_1} + mR \ln \frac{V_2}{V_1}
orΔS=mCpln⁡T2T1−mRln⁡P2P1\text{or} \quad \Delta S = mC_p \ln \frac{T_2}{T_1} - mR \ln
\frac{P_2}{P_1}

●​ Use CvC_v for constant volume​

●​ Use CpC_p for constant pressure​

🔹 Irreversibility
A process is irreversible if:

●​ Heat is transferred through a finite temperature difference​

●​ There is friction, mixing, inelastic deformation, or unrestrained expansion​

●​ Real-world engines and processes always have some irreversibility​

🔹 Entropy Generation (SgenS_{gen})


Sgen=ΔSsystem+ΔSsurroundings\boxed{S_{gen} = \Delta S_{\text{system}} + \Delta
S_{\text{surroundings}}}

●​ Sgen>0S_{gen} > 0: Irreversible process​

●​ Sgen=0S_{gen} = 0: Reversible process​

●​ Sgen<0S_{gen} < 0: ❌ Not possible (violates Second Law)​

🔹 Key Insights
Condition Entropy Behavior

Reversible adiabatic (isentropic) ΔS=0\Delta S = 0

Heat added reversibly ΔS>0\Delta S > 0

Heat removed reversibly ΔS<0\Delta S < 0

Real (irreversible) process ΔSuniverse>0\Delt


a
S_{\text{universe}}
>0

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