Difference between revisions of "Maxwell's demon"
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| − | '''Maxwell's demon''' is an imaginary being invoked in a thought experiment that illustrates the [[second law of thermodynamics]]. In the thought experiment there is a gas-filled container with two chambers and a small trap door in the partition between them. The 'demon' opens and closes the door to collect faster moving gas [[molecule]]s in one chamber and slower ones in the other chamber, | + | '''Maxwell's demon''' is an imaginary being invoked in a thought experiment that illustrates the [[second law of thermodynamics]]. In the thought experiment there is a gas-filled container with two chambers and a small trap door in the partition between them. The 'demon' opens and closes the door to collect faster moving gas [[molecule]]s in one chamber and slower ones in the other chamber, creating a difference in [[temperature]] between the two chambers. |
[[category:physics]] | [[category:physics]] | ||
Revision as of 19:37, January 23, 2008
Maxwell's demon is an imaginary being invoked in a thought experiment that illustrates the second law of thermodynamics. In the thought experiment there is a gas-filled container with two chambers and a small trap door in the partition between them. The 'demon' opens and closes the door to collect faster moving gas molecules in one chamber and slower ones in the other chamber, creating a difference in temperature between the two chambers.