Second Law Of Thermodynamics:

The second law of thermodynamics is an expression of the tendency that over time, differences in temperature, pressure, and chemical potential equilibrate in an isolated physical system. From the state of thermodynamic equilibrium, the law deduced the principle of the increase of entropy and explains the phenomenon of irreversibility in nature. The second law declares the impossibility of machines that generate usable energy from the abundant internal energy of nature by processes called perpetual motion of the second kind. The second law may be expressed in many specific ways, but the first formulation is credited to the French scientist Sadi Carnot in 1824 (see Timeline of thermodynamics). The law is usually stated in physical terms of impossible processes. In classical thermodynamics, the second law is a basic postulate applicable to any system involving measurable heat transfer, while in statistical thermodynamics, the second law is a consequence of unitarily in quantum theory. In classical thermodynamics, the second law defines the concept of thermodynamic entropy, while in statistical mechanics entropy is defined from information theory, known as the Shannon entropy. It states that the entropy of an isolated system which is not in equilibrium will tend to increase over time and is maximum at equilibrium.

Other statements of Second law of thermodynamics: General statement: In the system, occurring processes tends to increase the entropy of universe. Clausius statement: Heat flow from a material at lower temperature to a material at higher temperature cannot be spontaneous. Kevin statement: In a cyclic process, it is impossible to convert heat completely into work. Carnot's theorem: It can be deduced by Second law of thermodynamics that At a particular set of temperatures, for all the reversible engines the efficiency is same and no engine can have more efficiency than this.

Efficiency, n = 1 T1/T2