What is Entropy and How Does It Impact Our World?

  • Thread starter Thread starter blumist
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Entropy
AI Thread Summary
Entropy is a complex concept often compared to energy, with no simple definition. It is commonly understood as "energy unavailable to perform useful work," but can also be interpreted in terms of randomness or lack of information. Many popular science explanations, such as associating entropy with disorder, can lead to confusion. A more logical interpretation is that entropy measures the probability of a state, with its exponential nature indicating that small increases in entropy significantly affect probabilities. Understanding entropy requires recognizing its multifaceted implications in various scientific contexts.
blumist
Messages
18
Reaction score
0
I know its a pretty noob question... but still, What in the world is Entropy? Can't seem to grasp its idea.
 
Science news on Phys.org
Your question is reasonable, but is just like asking 'what is energy?'- there's not a simple and complete answer.

Personally, I think of entropy as "energy unavailable to perform useful work". This allows for additional statistical interpretations like "randomness" or "lack of information".
 
I think there are many popular science concepts around that only confuse (like "disorder"). Maybe the most logical conclusion is that entropy is nothing more than a measure for the probability for a state. It's highly exponential meaning that a slight increase in entropy makes a big difference for the actual probability.
 

Thread 'Basic thermal energy transfer physics: Insulation value in open airways vs sealed airways'

Been around 40 years since I took basic physics in college and while I remember doing some examples of insulation values / energy conduction, I doubt I could to the math now even if I could find the formulas. I have some some corrugated plastic sheet (think of the plastic signs you see on the side of the road) that is used in bee hives. Also have some used in a green house though a bit different in dimensions than this example but the general approach should still apply. Typically, both...
View full post »

Thread 'Using battery energy to heat a battery…'

Problem: You’re an Uber driver with a Tesla Model 3. Today’s low: 30F, high: 65F. You want to reach a USD$ profit target in the least number of hours, but your choices could have added cost. Do you preheat the battery only when you are headed to the charging station (to increase the charging rate by warming the battery — however the battery might not be “warm enough” when your reach the charger and thus slower charging rates), or do you always “navigate to the charger” the entire day (which...
View full post »
Thread 'Is Callen right in claiming dQ=TdS for all quasi-static processes?'

Thread 'Is Callen right in claiming dQ=TdS for all quasi-static processes?'

Hello! I am currently reading the second edition of Callen's Thermodynamics and an Introduction to Thermostatistics, and I have a question regarding Callen's definition of quasi-static. On page 96, Callen says: Another way of characterizing Callen's definition is that a process is quasi-static if it traces out a continuous curve in the system's configuration space. So far it's all well and good. A little later, Callen claims that the identification of $$TdS$$ as the heat transfer is only...
View full post »

Similar threads

B Ideas regarding gravity and entropy
Replies
4
Views
3K
B Entropy change for reversible and irreversible processes
Replies
12
Views
2K
I How can the maximum entropy and minimum energy principles be physical?
Replies
13
Views
3K
I Relating Entropy and the 2nd law
Replies
2
Views
2K
I Is low entropy found in something very hot?
Replies
26
Views
3K
What Thermodynamics and Entropy Means
Replies
1
Views
2K
Definition of a system in Boltzmann entropy
Replies
1
Views
1K
I Boltzmann Entropy Formula – Derivation
Replies
18
Views
5K
I Elementary Ideas About Entropy -- Is this textbook example correct?
Replies
16
Views
2K
Why does the entropy of a closed system remain constant in a reversible process?
Replies
10
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top