Question

Which of the following statements are correct for the Second Law of Thermodynamics?
(A) It is impossible to derive a continuous supply of energy from a body by cooling it below the temperature of its surroundings.
(B) It is possible to derive a continuous supply of energy from a body by cooling it below the temperature of its surroundings.
(C) It is impossible for a self-acting machine, unaided by any external agency, to convey heat from a body at lower temperature to another body at higher temperature.
(D) It is possible for a self-acting machine, unaided by any external agency, to convey heat from a body at lower temperature to another body at higher temperature.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• (A) and (B) only
• (B) and (C) only
• (B) and (D) only
• (A) and (C) only

Hint:

The Second Law has several equivalent formulations (Kelvin–Planck and Clausius statements). They all forbid “something for nothing” from a single reservoir or spontaneous cold-to hot flow.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Statements (A) and (C) summarize two well-known impossibility statements of the second law: (1) No heat engine can continuously produce work by just cooling a single reservoir below its surroundings, and (2) no spontaneous (self-acting) device can transfer heat from cold to hot without external energy.