Abstract
Is it not true that the Second Law of Thermodynamics is contradicted by the known facts of diffusion? When, for instance, masses of hydrogen and nitrogen are separated by a palladium partition, a difference of pressure is set up, owing to the diffusion of some of the hydrogen into the compartment which at first contained only nitrogen. In this condition the system is able to do work at the expense of its own heat, or heat entering from without. The palladium, in fact, takes the place of Clerk Maxwell's Sorting Demon, though, in this case, the process cannot be made continuous.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
BROWNE, M. The Second Law of Thermodynamics. Nature 73, 102 (1905). https://doi.org/10.1038/073102a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/073102a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.