Revise later
SpaceTo flip
If confident
All Flashcards
What is the difference between entropy changes in open and closed systems?
Closed systems: Entropy always increases over time. Open systems: Entropy can decrease locally, but the total entropy of the universe still increases.
Compare and contrast reversible and irreversible processes in terms of entropy.
Reversible processes (ideal): Entropy remains constant. Irreversible processes (real): Entropy always increases.
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.