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| | The Second Law of Thermodynamics disproves the [[atheistic]] [[Theory of Evolution]] and [[Theory of Relativity]], both of which deny a fundamental uncertainty to the physical world that leads to increasing disorder. | | The Second Law of Thermodynamics disproves the [[atheistic]] [[Theory of Evolution]] and [[Theory of Relativity]], both of which deny a fundamental uncertainty to the physical world that leads to increasing disorder. |
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| − | ==The three forms of the Second Law of Thermodynamics==
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| − | There are three different types of systems that the Second Law of Thermodynamics can apply to:
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| − | * Isolated system - Does not exchange matter or energy with its surroundings
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| − | * Closed system - Exchanges energy, but not matter, with its surroundings
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| − | * Open system - Exchanges both matter and energy with its surroundings
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| − | ==Reversibility and Irreversibility==
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| − | [[Reversible process|Reversibility]] is a theoretical concept related to the Second Law of Thermodynamics. A process is reversible if the net heat and work exchange between the system and the surroundings is zero for the process running forwards and in reverse. This means the process does not generate entropy. In reality, no process is completely reversible. Irreversibility is a quantity sometimes called "lost work" and is equal to the difference between a process' actual work and reversible work. Irreversibility is also equal to a process' entropy generation multiplied by a reference temperature.
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| − | ==Trend toward uniformity in the universe==
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| − | The universe will always become increasingly uniform, that is: heat will spread until the entire universe has the temperature and energy level (in a closed system heat will always spread from a place where there is a lot of heat to a place where there is less until balance is achieved), forces will continue to work until a universal balance has been achieved.
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| − | In this final state the universe is one uniform space where nothing happens and no work (moving something) can be done since there are no above average concentrations of energy left.
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| − | This state is called maximum entropy and is said to be in perfect disorder (although intuitively its uniformity would seem to be a state of perfect order) because it has become impossible to determine what happened in the past. ''i.e.'' There are an infinite number of ways (histories of the universe) maximum entropy could have been reached.
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| | ==Entropy and disorder == | | ==Entropy and disorder == |
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| − | In this context "increasing disorder" means "that which happens if you let nature take its course". | + | In this context "increasing disorder" means "that which happens if you let nature take its course." |
| | Imagine your old room at your parent's house. Remember how easy it was to let the room turn into a uniform mess (disorder) and remember how hard it was to clean it up until it fit a specific, non-uniform design (order). Not cleaning up would always result in an increase of entropy in your room! | | Imagine your old room at your parent's house. Remember how easy it was to let the room turn into a uniform mess (disorder) and remember how hard it was to clean it up until it fit a specific, non-uniform design (order). Not cleaning up would always result in an increase of entropy in your room! |
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| | The often heard argument that this law disproves an eternal universe is true, since in that case maximum entropy would have been reached already. A counter-argument to this would be to suggest that the universe is still in the process of approaching maximum entropy. | | The often heard argument that this law disproves an eternal universe is true, since in that case maximum entropy would have been reached already. A counter-argument to this would be to suggest that the universe is still in the process of approaching maximum entropy. |
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| | + | ==Reversibility and Irreversibility== |
| | + | [[Reversible process|Reversibility]] is a theoretical concept related to the Second Law of Thermodynamics. A process is reversible if the net heat and work exchange between the system and the surroundings is zero for the process running forwards and in reverse. This means the process does not generate entropy. In reality, no process is completely reversible. Irreversibility is a quantity sometimes called "lost work" and is equal to the difference between a process' actual work and reversible work. Irreversibility is also equal to a process' entropy generation multiplied by a reference temperature. |
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| | + | ==Trend toward uniformity in the universe== |
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| | + | The universe will always become increasingly uniform, that is: heat will spread until the entire universe has the temperature and energy level (in a closed system heat will always spread from a place where there is a lot of heat to a place where there is less until balance is achieved), forces will continue to work until a universal balance has been achieved. |
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| | + | In this final state the universe is one uniform space where nothing happens and no work (moving something) can be done since there are no above average concentrations of energy left. |
| | + | This state is called maximum entropy and is said to be in perfect disorder (although intuitively its uniformity would seem to be a state of perfect order) because it has become impossible to determine what happened in the past. ''i.e.'' There are an infinite number of ways (histories of the universe) maximum entropy could have been reached. |
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| | + | ==The three types of systems governed by the Law== |
| | + | There are three different types of systems that the Second Law of Thermodynamics can apply to: |
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| | + | * Isolated system - Does not exchange matter or energy with its surroundings |
| | + | * Closed system - Exchanges energy, but not matter, with its surroundings |
| | + | * Open system - Exchanges both matter and energy with its surroundings |
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| | ==Liberal abuse of the second law of thermodynamics== | | ==Liberal abuse of the second law of thermodynamics== |