Is Cooling Without Work Possible Under the Sun's Heat?

In summary, the process of holding a pitcher of water under the sun and seeing a cooling of water in it is due to the transfer of heat from the hot water to the cooler air through evaporation. This is in accordance with the second law of thermodynamics, which states that heat will always transfer from a hot body to a cold body without the need for work. Evaporation is a form of mass transfer that creates a difference in vapor pressure, which serves as the driving force for heat transfer. This process results in a decrease in the energy (temperature) of the water, as energy from the sun is transferred to the cooler air. This is not a violation of Clasius' statement, as evaporation is considered a separate change that
  • #1
persia7
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if you hold a pitcher of water under sun you sea cooling of water in it, you transfer heat from hot to cool without do work, how do you explain it according with second law of thermodynamics?
 
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  • #2
persia7 said:
if you hold a pitcher of water under sun you sea cooling of water in it
No, the water gets warmer, not cooler. Especially if your pitcher is sealed to prevent evaporation.

persia7 said:
you transfer heat from hot to cool without do work, how do you explain it according with second law of thermodynamics?
Yes, heat goes from the hot body to the cold body without work. That is what the 2nd law of thermo says should happen.
 
  • #3
if there is evaporation it cools and heat transfer from cold to hot how do u explain it?
 
  • #4
persia7 said:
if there is evaporation it cools and heat transfer from cold to hot how do u explain it?

If there is evaporation, you do not have a closed system. Evaporation makes the entropy increase.
 
  • #5
The molecules in the water are doing the work of vaporizing the blob of water. The molecules use their kinetic energy to do that.

kinetic energy of molecules= heat, more heat = higher temperature
being vaporized = latent heat, more latent heat = no change of temperature

The heat energy of the water is turning into the latent heat energy of the water.

The temperature of the water is going down. There's no rise of temperature of anything. There is no change of energy of anything.
 
  • #6
persia7 said:
if there is evaporation it cools and heat transfer from cold to hot how do u explain it?
If there is evaporation then the air is initially too dry, which is a low-entropy state. The evaporation continues until the water vapor in the air is at the vapor pressure, which is a high-entropy state. Thus the entropy can increase even though the temperature decreases.
 
  • #7
In addition, you transfer a lot of energy from a very hot system (the sun) to a cold system (anything on earth).
 
  • #8
for heat to flow from hot to cold body there should be driving force which is temp difference..

but evaporation is case of mass transfer..in which driving force is difference between the vapor pressure and saturation pressure of water at that temp. As the difference increases evaporation increases and finally comes to an equilibrium state when two pressure become equal.

Clausius statement is that no heat can be transferred from cold to hot until work is done.
work is done to create the driving force( temp difference). here when air whose relative humidity is less then 100% comes,it swept away vapors with it from liquid surface thus lowering the vapor pressure and creating a driving force.

in the fig,cylinder is insulated from sides.when vapor pressure decreases,molecules at surface of water extract energy from neighboring molecules and become vapors,thus lowering the over all energy content of liquid water(temp).
 

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  • #9
according to clasius statement there must be work, where is work?
 
  • #10
That has already been explained:
mfb said:
In addition, you transfer a lot of energy from a very hot system (the sun) to a cold system (anything on earth).
 
  • #11
persia7 said:
according to clasius statement there must be work, where is work?
This is a distortion of Clasius' statement. His statement was "Heat can never pass from a colder to a warmer body without some other change, connected therewith, occurring at the same time." See p 117 here. Evaporation is "some other change, connected therewith".
 

FAQ: Is Cooling Without Work Possible Under the Sun's Heat?

Can cooling occur without work under the Sun's heat?

Yes, it is possible for cooling to occur without work under the Sun's heat. This process is known as passive cooling and it involves using natural methods such as radiation, convection, and evaporation to lower the temperature of an object without the use of external energy.

How does passive cooling work?

Passive cooling works by utilizing the laws of thermodynamics, specifically the second law which states that heat naturally flows from hotter objects to cooler objects. By using materials with high reflectivity and low thermal conductivity, passive cooling can effectively reflect and dissipate the Sun's heat, causing a decrease in temperature.

Is passive cooling energy efficient?

Yes, passive cooling is considered to be energy efficient as it does not require any external energy sources to operate. This makes it a sustainable and cost-effective method of cooling, especially in areas with high temperatures and limited access to electricity.

What are some examples of passive cooling techniques?

Some examples of passive cooling techniques include shading, thermal insulation, natural ventilation, and evaporative cooling. These methods can be used in buildings, vehicles, and even clothing to reduce the effects of the Sun's heat.

Are there any limitations to passive cooling?

While passive cooling can be effective in lowering temperatures, it is not always suitable for all climates and situations. In extremely hot and humid environments, passive cooling may not be enough to achieve a comfortable temperature. Additionally, passive cooling methods may also be limited by the design and materials used in a building or object.

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