All Flashcards
What is entropy?
A measure of the disorder or randomness in a system, or how much energy is spread out.
Define the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
The total entropy of an isolated system can never decrease; it can only increase or remain constant in ideal reversible processes.
What is a state function?
A property of a system that depends only on the current state of the system, not how it reached that state.
What is a closed system?
A system where energy can be exchanged with the surroundings, but matter cannot enter or leave.
What is an open system?
A system where both energy and matter can be exchanged with the surroundings.
What is thermodynamic equilibrium?
The state of a system where it has reached maximum entropy and there is no net change in energy distribution.
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).