Second Law of Thermodynamics

Second Law of Thermodynamics - A clip from our friends at http://www.IllustraMedia.com - The Privileged Planet.

The Second Law of Thermodynamics is one of three Laws of Thermodynamics. The term "thermodynamics" comes from two root words: "thermo," meaning heat, and "dynamic," meaning power. Thus, the Laws of Thermodynamics are the Laws of "Heat Power." As far as we can tell, these Laws are absolute. All things in the observable universe are affected by and obey the Laws of Thermodynamics.

The First Law of Thermodynamics, commonly known as the Law of Conservation of Matter, states that matter/energy cannot be created nor can it be destroyed. The quantity of matter/energy remains the same. It can change from solid to liquid to gas to plasma and back again, but the total amount of matter/energy in the universe remains constant.

The Second Law of Thermodynamics is commonly known as the Law of Increased Entropy. While quantity remains the same (First Law), the quality of matter/energy deteriorates gradually over time. How so? Usable energy is inevitably used for productivity, growth and repair. In the process, usable energy is converted into unusable energy. Thus, usable energy is irretrievably lost in the form of unusable energy.

"Entropy" is defined as a measure of unusable energy within a closed or isolated system (the universe for example). As usable energy decreases and unusable energy increases, "entropy" increases. Entropy is also a gauge of randomness or chaos within a closed system. As usable energy is irretrievably lost, disorganization, randomness and chaos increase.

The implications of the Second Law of Thermodynamics are considerable. The universe is constantly losing usable energy and never gaining. We logically conclude the universe is not eternal. The universe had a finite beginning -- the moment at which it was at "zero entropy" (its most ordered possible state). Like a wind-up clock, the universe is winding down, as if at one point it was fully wound up and has been winding down ever since. The question is who wound up the clock?

The theological implications are obvious. NASA Astronomer Robert Jastrow commented on these implications when he said, "Theologians generally are delighted with the proof that the universe had a beginning, but astronomers are curiously upset. It turns out that the scientist behaves the way the rest of us do when our beliefs are in conflict with the evidence." (Robert Jastrow, God and the Astronomers, 1978, p. 16.)

Jastrow went on to say, "For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries." (God and the Astronomers, p. 116.) It seems the Cosmic Egg that was the birth of our universe logically requires a Cosmic Chicken...

Please visit http://www.allaboutscience.org/second-law-of-thermodynamics.htm for more information on the Law of Thermodynamics and other fine-tuned elements in our cosmos and on our planet Earth.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Entropy
• Illustra Media
• Privileged Planet
• Earth
• Design
• Science
• Randall Niles
• yt:stretch=16:9

[kapwns]

silly religion, stop trying to deny science while also trying to use it to prove religion

[kloveless82]

This video didn't explain much of anything.

[AkasakaS2000]

@FirebrandNIRE

law in physics is descriptive, not prescribe by anyone (i.e. u can never violate it even if u hv freewill), and disorder itself is a law in thermodynamics (although often misused...). There are plenty of good videos on youtube, if you are really interested in science. An introductory course of statistical mechanics in any proper institution can also help.

[FirebrandNIRE]

The universe is governed by Laws not disorder, there Evolution is farcical in the extreme.

[AkasakaS2000]

the last probability calculation is quite amusing... wt do each of the factor mean, and how do u assign a 1/10 probability to each (or any probability)? Remember: each microstate is equally unlikely, until we start grouping microstates together. U'll find out that simple multiplication is way too fictitious to describe our universe.

I hoped to see a better scientific illustration of the 2nd law, not this kind of crap...

[Insanity2365]

The big bang caused the universe to come into being. If anything this disproves religion. It shows that the universe began with a huge explosion, and the energy from this explosion is aging and becoming useless.

[MTalhaSaleem1]

ths is nt abt 2nd law of thermodynamics bt sm geology ...:@

[Tinzert]

People trying to argue whether a religion is real or not are the true retards. Its literally the most retarded thing imaginable. Why? You're trying to prove/disprove something intangible. Why bother?

OH WAIT I KNOW WHY

Athiests simply like to argue from what I notice so they can attempt to sound smart -- You know what people deem that as? Being a pseudo-intellectual

Christians get mad when you try to prove their God wrong and will try to convert you. Athiests, just SHUTUP.

[kapwns]

@DjKurdo10 ...and yet it fails horribly at proving any of that

[kapwns]

@frank0067 funny b/c no where did darwin or evolutionary science speak about other dimensions.

lol at this point i don't think you can even define science while remaining consistent with your previous positions.

there's no evidence for your other realms/dimensions, let alone anything that substantiates your claims to knowing anything about them.

religion is based on believing without evidence that's why it tries to glorify "faith". atheists/skeptics only believe with evidence.