Re: question about entropy
- From: Uncle Al <UncleAl0@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 08 Jul 2005 09:34:17 -0700
takmais@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
>
> hello.. i'm a layman(how many posts start out this way?) is it fair to
> say that in a very general sense, entropy is the measure of local
> variations in the energy level of a the universe as a whole?
Entropy is not energy (enthalpy) and it is only one component of
overall free energy. Dissolve ammonium nitrate in water.
> in other
> words(yes this if more for my benefit than your's) the 2nd lay of
> thermodynamics says that the total entropy of the universe must always
> increase right?
As a whole in a closed system over time, sure. Locally all bets are
off because equilibirum thermodynamics need not obtain (Ilya
Prigonine) or the system might merely be unclosed.
> this still allows for the possibility of negative
> intropy on a local level. local level in this case means both spatial
> and temporal locality. so that in this way, the earth and all of its
> complexity including humans and our subjectivly complex lives etc
> etc... coudl all "evolve" over the past 4 billion years or so seeming
> violation of the second law, yet still not violate the second law
> because this is a spacially and temporally local phenomenon? just
> wondered if this was a fair description.. thanks
> jtg
The Earth is not a closed system. Energetic systems far from
equilibrium and/or with positive feedback are observed to
spontaneously order (e.g., Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction).
"Belousov-Zhabotinsky" 14,800 hits
"chemical oscillators" 860 hits
--
Uncle Al
http://www.mazepath.com/uncleal/
(Toxic URL! Unsafe for children and most mammals)
http://www.mazepath.com/uncleal/qz.pdf
.
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