Question

Fundamental principle of refrigeration is based on the which law of thermodynamics?

• A. Zeroth
• B. First
• C. Second
• D. Third

Hint:

Refrigeration transfers heat from low temperature to high temperature by using external work, which is based on the second law of thermodynamics.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Refrigeration is the process of removing heat from a low temperature region and rejecting it to a high temperature region. Naturally, heat flows from high temperature to low temperature. But in refrigeration, heat is made to flow from low temperature to high temperature. This cannot happen by itself. External work must be supplied to make this process possible. This statement is related to the second law of thermodynamics. According to the Clausius statement of the second law, heat cannot flow from a colder body to a hotter body without external work. A refrigerator works exactly on this principle. It removes heat from the cold space and rejects it to the surroundings by consuming work input. Therefore, the fundamental principle of refrigeration is based on: \[ \text{Second law of thermodynamics} \]