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Heat Engine Vs Human Body


Author - Dr. S.R. Shankapal

Date of upload -  23 September 2024

As per second law of thermodynamics, an heat engine working in a thermodynamic cycle receives heat from a source, rejects part of the heat received to a sink, the difference is converted into work. The work may get dissipated into heat if it is not completely utilised. Let us apply this idea for a human body, it receives energy in the form of food, rejects part of it as waste, the difference gets converted into energy. How exactly this energy gets distributed different functions of body, if some energy is left over, what happens to that energy?

The analogy of a heat engine to the human body provides a useful framework for understanding how energy is processed and distributed. Let’s break down how energy from food is managed by the human body and how it relates to thermodynamic principles.

1. Energy Input and Conversion in the Human Body:

2. Energy Distribution to Body Functions:

3. Waste Energy:

4. Leftover Energy – Storage and Dissipation:

5. What Happens to Excess Energy?

Summary (in terms of thermodynamics):

In conclusion, energy in the human body is constantly being processed, distributed, used, and dissipated, much like a thermodynamic system striving to maintain balance and stability.

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