An automobile engine is about 20 to 30% efficient in converting chemical energy to mechanical energy. Cells are about 39% efficient in the transformation of glucose to ATP. The rest of the energy is lost as heat. This is illustrative of the

Second Law of Thermodynamics

Explanation:

The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that the entropy, which can be defined as the state of disorder in a given system, will always increase across time. This Law poses that the processes of energy transfer, as well as those involving energy transformation, increase the entropy of the universe. As a predictable consequence, the Second Law of Thermodynamics also states that organisms (which represent thermodynamically closed systems) are in a continuous battle against the constant increase in the entropy of the universe, where energy is essentially lost in the form of heat.

the wetland preservation movement began in the u.s. in earnest with the clean water act (cwa) of 1972. although not specifically written to protect wetlands, the cwa is comprised of a series of regulations designed to prevent pollutants from contaminating u.s. waters.