What term describes the increase in entropy due to friction and heat losses in a heat engine?

The increase in entropy due to friction and heat losses in a heat engine is referred to as entropy production. This concept highlights the inherent inefficiencies that occur in real-world processes, particularly in thermodynamic systems like heat engines.

When a heat engine operates, it converts heat energy into work, but this process is never 100% efficient due to factors such as friction and irreversibilities. As mechanical systems operate, friction generates heat, and energy is dissipated to the surroundings. This dissipation contributes to an increase in the overall entropy of the system and its environment.

Entropy production specifically quantifies the amount of entropy generated as a result of irreversible processes. In the context of a heat engine, it underscores the limitations imposed by the Second Law of Thermodynamics, which states that the total entropy of an isolated system can never decrease over time. Therefore, understanding entropy production helps to evaluate the performance of heat engines and the efficiency losses attributable to these irreversible processes.