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Entropy

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matty2670 | 16:12 Thu 19th Jan 2006 | Science
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Does anyone have a simplified explanation of entropy/the 2nd law of thermodynamics?
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Everything in a closed system runs down with age. Lots of argument on what consitutes a closed system, however...
One look at it is disorder.

Brilliant book for thermodynamics:

Thermal Physics, by C B Finn.

Rather depends on how simplified


I think this is quite good


http://www.ncsu.edu/felder-public/kenny/papers/entropy.html


Is that any good or do you mean something more simplified or more specific?


entropy is the tendancy for matter to degrade when energy is released. e.g. If you burn a piece of coal it will turn to ash as the stored chemical energy is released. Following this law to its logical conclusion: The universe has finite energy so without an external source to put energy back in, it will eventually reach a state of "inert uniformity" which basically means uselessly random.



jim

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