Single Idea 20624

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 2. Thermodynamics / b. Heat]

Full Idea

William Thomson, Lord Kelvin, declared (in 1865) the second law of thermodynamics: mechanical work inevitably tends to degrade into heat, but not vice versa.

Gist of Idea

Work degrades into heat, but not vice versa

Source

Frank Close (Theories of Everything [2017], 3 'Perpetual')

Book Reference

Close,Frank: 'Theories of Everything' [Profile Books 2017], p.28


A Reaction

The basis of entropy, which makes time an essential part of physics. Might this be the single most important fact about the physical world?