What is the -1st law of thermodynamics?

In summary, the -1st law of thermodynamics is a principle that states energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can only be transferred or converted from one form to another. It applies to everyday life in various ways, such as the conversion of food into energy in our bodies and the conversion of solar energy into heat and light. An example of this law in action is a car engine, where energy from fuel is converted into motion to power the car. The -1st law is closely related to the 2nd law of thermodynamics, which states that energy tends to disperse and lead to a decrease in usable energy over time. This has important implications for the study of energy, as it is a fundamental principle that must be considered
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Abdul.119
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The so called -1st (Minus First) law of thermodynamics, I believe states that information cannot be destroyed, or something along those lines. Does anyone know where I can read more about it? I think I've heard Dr. Leonard Susskind talk about it but it's been hard to find the video or any other material about it.
 
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Here's Susskind's lecture on statistical mechanics where he talks of the conservation of information:
 
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This question was asked quite some time ago, but in the long drawn process of trying to get my head around irreversibility, I came across an article on the minus first law.

The minus first law is not a statement about energy. That energy cannot be created or destroyed is the content of the first law of thermodynamics. The minus first law is a statement of the empirically observed fact that an isolated system if left alone will spontaneously approach a unique state of equilibrium, see H. R. Brown and J. Uffink in their article, “The origins of time-asymmetry in thermodynamics: The minus first law”, published in 2001 in Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics Vol 32, p525.

That this state of affairs is found to arise in the natural world is the basic reason why there is a science of thermodynamics.

The authors point out that the minus first law is logically prior to the second law. The minus first law tells us that an isolated system prepared in a non-equilibrium state will approach equilibrium, the second law tells us that the entropy of this system will increase as a result, it does not tell us that the system will be driven towards equilibrium.

The physical underpinnings of the minus first law is another question entirely. I believe it is covered in one of Susskind's lectures in the classical case, making use of the ideas of dynamical chaos and coarse-graining. The quantum version is a different matter, the leading candidate as far as I know goes by the name of the eigenstate thermalisation hypothesis which can be readily found on Wikipedia.
 

Related to What is the -1st law of thermodynamics?

1. What is the -1st law of thermodynamics?

The -1st law of thermodynamics, also known as the law of conservation of energy, states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed from one form to another.

2. How is the -1st law of thermodynamics different from the 1st law?

The -1st law of thermodynamics is essentially the same as the 1st law, but it takes into account systems that involve negative work or energy transfer. This is why it is sometimes referred to as the -1st law.

3. What are some real-world examples of the -1st law of thermodynamics?

One example is a car engine, where the chemical energy from gasoline is converted into mechanical energy to power the car. Another example is a power plant, where the energy from burning coal is transformed into electricity.

4. How does the -1st law of thermodynamics relate to the concept of entropy?

The -1st law of thermodynamics does not directly relate to entropy, but it does help explain the concept. Entropy is a measure of the disorder or randomness in a system, and the -1st law states that energy will always flow from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration, increasing the overall entropy of the system.

5. What are the implications of the -1st law of thermodynamics for the environment?

The -1st law of thermodynamics has important implications for the environment, as it reminds us that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. This means that any energy used by humans ultimately comes from the environment, and the waste products and byproducts of energy use must also be dealt with in an environmentally responsible way.

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