Heat is transferred at a rate of 2 kW from a hot reservoir at 800 K to a cold reservoir at 300 K. Calculate the rate at which the entropy of the two reservoirs changes and determine if the second law is satisfied

0.00417 kW/K or 4.17 W/K

Second law is satisfied.

Explanation:

Parameters given:

Rate of heat transfer, Q = 2kW

Temperature of hot reservoir, Th = 800K

Temperature of cold reservoir, Tc = 300K

The rate of entropy change is given as:

ΔS = Q * [ (1/Tc) - (1/Th) ]

ΔS = 2 * (1/300 - 1/800)

ΔS = 2 * 0.002085

ΔS = 0.00417 kW/K or 4.17 W/K

Since ΔS is greater than 0, te the second law of thermodynamics is satisfied.