Second law of thermodynamics: Second law of thermodynamics states that there is a definite limit to the amount of mechanical energy, which can be obtained from a given quantity of heat energy.

According to Claussius, this lay may be stated as ” It is impossible for a self acting machine working in a cyclic process, to transfer heat from a body at a lower temperature to a body at a higher temperature without the aid of an external agency”.

The second law of thermodynamics has also been stated by Kelvin Planck as ” It is impossible to construct an engine working on a cyclic process, whose sole purpose is to convert heat energy into work.” According to this statement, the second law of thermodynamics is sometimes called as law of degradation of energy.