Which of the following best describes how an increase in the entropy of an isolated…
CHEMISTRY · Single correct · A Level · Chemistry · Thermodynamics · Thermodynamics
Problem
Which of the following best describes how an increase in the entropy of an isolated system affects the maximum useful work that can later be extracted from that system?
(a) It is unchanged because maximum work depends only on internal energy, not entropy.
(b) It decreases because a larger portion of the internal energy becomes unavailable for conversion to work.
(c) It increases only if the temperature of the system is simultaneously lowered.
(d) It increases because the energy is more evenly spread, allowing greater efficiency.