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==Second Law compared with other physical laws==

==Second Law compared with other physical laws==

Thermodynamics occupies an unusual place in the world of science, particularly at the high school and undergraduate levels.  The second law is the one that is especially peculiar.  (In fact, the other laws are comparatively mundane.  The first law is just a statement that heat is a form of energy, and that energy, whether in the form of heat or not, is conserved.  This was a very nontrivial result at first, but, with the understanding of heat and temperature that later developed, it's quite unremarkable.  The third law is a statement that absolute zero can't be reached by any finite number of Carnot cycles.  While true, its significance pales in comparison to that of the second law.)

Thermodynamics occupies an unusual place in the world of science, particularly at the high school and undergraduate levels.  The second law is the one that is especially peculiar.  (In fact, the other laws are comparatively mundane.  The first law is just a statement that heat is a form of energy, and that energy, whether in the form of heat or not, is conserved.  This was a very nontrivial result at first, but, with the understanding of heat and temperature that later developed, it's quite unremarkable.  The third law is a statement that absolute zero can't be reached by any finite number of Carnot cycles<ref>[https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Carnot_engine Carnot Engine]</ref>.  While true, its significance pales in comparison to that of the second law.)

Perhaps what makes the second law so remarkable is that it describes ''irreversible'' phenomena.  In particular, it describes the observed fact that heat energy, in bodies that are not being externally manipulated by compression, etc., flows only from a warmer body to a cooler one.  When a warmer body is placed in contact with a cooler one, heat energy will flow (always perserving total energy, of course) from the warmer one to the cooler one.  The warmer one will cool off as it releases its energy, and the cooler one will warm up.  This process will continue until the two bodies reach the same temperature, or "thermal equilibrium".

Perhaps what makes the second law so remarkable is that it describes ''irreversible'' phenomena.  In particular, it describes the observed fact that heat energy, in bodies that are not being externally manipulated by compression, etc., flows only from a warmer body to a cooler one.  When a warmer body is placed in contact with a cooler one, heat energy will flow (always perserving total energy, of course) from the warmer one to the cooler one.  The warmer one will cool off as it releases its energy, and the cooler one will warm up.  This process will continue until the two bodies reach the same temperature, or "thermal equilibrium".

*[[Essay:Commentary on Conservapedia's article on the second law of thermodynamics]]

*[[Essay:Commentary on Conservapedia's article on the second law of thermodynamics]]

*[[Genetic entropy]]

*[[Genetic entropy]]

==External links==

==External links==