Question about Maximum Entropy

In summary, the second law of thermodynamics predicts that the universe will reach a state of maximum entropy, where all energy has been dissipated. However, according to the first law of thermodynamics, which states that energy cannot be destroyed, where can the energy be found once maximum entropy is reached? The answer is that it will be equally distributed in all available forms, as any other scenario would not result in maximum entropy. For example, as described by Roger Penrose, towards the end of the universe, when atomic particles disintegrate, the energy will no longer be centered around atomic structures, but will still exist in various forms throughout the universe.
  • #1
voxmagnetar
6
0
The second law of thermodynamics predicts the end of the life of the universe being one where thermal equilibrium exists throughout the universe (maximum entropy) - essentially all energy has been dissipated. My question is if according to the first law of thermodynamics which describes the conservation of energy (stating that energy cannot be destroyed) - where exactly can the energy be found once the state of maximum entropy has occurred?
 
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  • #2
voxmagnetar said:
where exactly can the energy be found once the state of maximum entropy has occurred?
Everywhere
 
  • #3
In what form? All I can imagine is velocity.
 
  • #4
Equally in all available forms. Otherwise entropy would not be maximized.
 
  • #5
If you can name some specific examples of exactly what and where the energy is. Roger Penrose states that towards the dying end of the universe the electrons drift away from the protons, the protons themselves eventually break into pieces. My question is that this scenario that Penrose describes doesn't sound like there would be any energy left once the elementary atomic particles disintegrate. In such a scenario as described by Penrose, where exactly if not centered around atomic structures would these be any extant energy?
 

Related to Question about Maximum Entropy

1. What is maximum entropy?

Maximum entropy is a concept in statistics and information theory that refers to the principle of choosing the probability distribution that has the highest entropy, or the most uncertainty. In other words, it is the distribution that makes the fewest assumptions about the data.

2. Why is maximum entropy important?

Maximum entropy is important because it allows us to make the most unbiased and rational predictions based on the available information. It is a fundamental principle that is used in various fields, including physics, economics, and machine learning.

3. How is maximum entropy calculated?

The calculation of maximum entropy involves using mathematical equations and techniques, such as Lagrange multipliers and optimization algorithms, to find the probability distribution that maximizes entropy while satisfying any given constraints.

4. What are some applications of maximum entropy?

Maximum entropy has many applications, including natural language processing, image processing, and signal processing. It is also used in statistical mechanics to describe the equilibrium state of a physical system.

5. Are there any limitations to maximum entropy?

While maximum entropy is a powerful and widely applicable concept, it does have some limitations. One limitation is that it relies on the assumption of independence between variables, which may not always hold true in real-world situations. Additionally, calculating the maximum entropy distribution can be computationally intensive for complex systems with many variables.

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