All Flashcards
What is the effect of energy spreading out in a system?
An increase in entropy.
What happens to the entropy of a gas as it cools in a closed container?
The entropy of the gas decreases, but the entropy of the surroundings increases by a greater amount, so the total entropy of the universe increases.
What is the effect of the Second Law of Thermodynamics on the universe?
The total entropy of the universe is always increasing.
What is the effect of energy spreading out in a system?
The entropy of the system increases.
What happens to the entropy of a hot cup of coffee placed in a closed room?
The entropy of the coffee decreases as it cools, while the entropy of the room increases as it absorbs the heat.
What happens when a gas cools in a sealed container?
The entropy of the gas decreases as its molecules move slower and become more ordered.
What is the effect of expelling waste and taking in energy on a living organism's entropy?
The organism can decrease its internal entropy, but the total entropy of the universe still increases.
What are the differences between open and closed systems regarding entropy?
Closed System: Entropy always increases over time. Open System: Entropy can decrease locally, but the total entropy of the universe still increases.
Differentiate between entropy increase and constant entropy.
Entropy Increase: Occurs naturally as energy spreads out in a system. Constant Entropy: Only happens in ideal reversible processes (rare).