First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics Essay

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The first law of thermodynamics is mainly concerned with energy conservation and it states that energy cannot be created or destroyed. However, energy can be converted from one form to another. The total amount of energy entering into a system must be equal to the equal to the total amount of energy that is leaving the system (Toja-Silva & Rovira, 2014). Energy can be transformed and transferred but it must always remain constant.

The second law of thermodynamics is entropy. Entropy is the measure of change from order to disorder. Matter will move from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration. The law states that entropy of an isolated system that is not in thermal equilibrium will increase to a point of equilibrium (Toja-Silva & Rovira, 2014). It is not possible for heat to emanate from a cold object to a warm object without work. In essence, an object that is cold cannot make another object warm naturally.

Energy remains constant because it cannot be created or destroyed. The first law mainly covers the conservation of energy and its transformation from form to another. However, something does change in the energy conversion and that is its re-usability. Anytime there is an energy conversion there is some energy that becomes less useful and eventually, all the energy will become less useful. This is mainly in as far as the ability of energy to make things happen is concerned. Therefore, the more energy that is used the more low-grade energy is available. Low-grade energy is only useful for warming the air around us and it cannot be used to do things that are considered useful. With energy efficiency, we would be able to reduce the amount of low-grade energy.

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Thus, ensuring that we are not overusing the currently available energy.

Pros and Cons

Fossil Fuel: Oil, natural gas, and coal

Fossil fuels are cheap and reliable sources of energy because they are extracted from the earth in large quantities. They are also reliable as they are not affected by external environmental factors, which make them a safer option for large power generation companies. Fossil fuels are efficient when compared to other energy sources. The cons of fossil fuels are they are not friendly to the environment because when they are burnt they produce carbon dioxide and other harmful gases (Ellabban, Abu-Rub, & Blaabjerg, 2014). They also contribute towards climate change and global warming. Fossil fuels are not renewable meaning that a time will come when the earth's fossil fuel deposits will be completely used up.

Nuclear Energy

Low pollution is on the pros for nuclear energy. Nuclear energy has fewer greenhouse gases emissions. Low operating costs since the lifespan of a nuclear reactor is anywhere between 40-60 years. Nuclear energy is more reliable than solar and wind, meaning it can run without any disruptions in any climatic condition. The energy produced is greater than the amount produced when using fossil fuels (Toja-Silva & Rovira, 2014). Some of the cons for nuclear energy are the radioactive waste produced can be a threat to the environment and it is dangerous for humans. The setup costs for a nuclear reactor are too high, which makes it less desirable to invest in. Uranium that is used to create nuclear energy is finite and it only exists in few countries. It is also expensive to mine, refine, and….....

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