An electric heater supplies 1000J of electrical work to 1.0kg of water initially at 298K contained in an open beaker kept in a room whose air is also at 298K. During the heating, 600J of heat is transferred from the water to the room. After the heater is switched off, the water eventually cools back to 298K, returning to its initial state. (Specific heat capacity of water is 4200Jkg−1K−1 and may be taken as constant.)
(a) For the heating stage, calculate the entropy change of the water and of the room separately.
(b) For the subsequent cooling stage, calculate again the entropy change of the water and of the room.
(c) Determine the net change in entropy of the universe for the complete cycle (heating followed by cooling).
(d) Based on your result, comment on the feasibility of constructing a device that converts all electrical work directly into mechanical work in a cyclic process without any net change in the entropy of the universe.