Second Law Of Thermodynamics Flashcards, test questions and answers
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What is Second Law Of Thermodynamics?
The Second Law of Thermodynamics is a fundamental law of physics that states that the total entropy of an isolated system always increases over time. Entropy is a measure of disorder or randomness in a system, and the Second Law states that disorder always increases with time. This law has far-reaching implications for many areas of science, from astrophysics to biology.The Second Law was first formulated by Rudolf Clausius in 1850, and it is one of the most important laws in all of physics. It can be used to explain why some processes are irreversible (such as heat flowing from hot objects to cold ones), why energy tends to become less useful over time, and why living systems have evolved so complexly as they strive towards equilibrium with their environment. In addition to understanding these processes on Earth, the Second Law has also been used to understand behavior in spacefor instance, it explains why stars eventually run out of fuel and die off due to their increasing entropy. The implications for life are especially profound: if energy always becomes less useful over time, then living systems must continually take in new energy sources (such as food) or else they will eventually die offa grim reminder of our mortality. By understanding how this law works on both small and large scales, we can better understand how life emerged on Earth and how it could potentially emerge elsewhere.