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Why is entropy irreversible?

Updated: 8/9/2023
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11y ago

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It's not that entropy can't be reversed, it's that the entropy of the universe is always increasing. That means that while you can reduce the entropy of something, the entropy of another thing must go up even more so that in total, the entropy goes up.

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13y ago
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Q: Why is entropy irreversible?
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Related questions

Is ice a reversible or irreversible?

Irreversible because the ordered arrangement of molecules in the ice crystals is lost and the entropy increases. Irreversible because the ordered arrangement of molecules in the ice crystals is lost and the entropy increases.


Is ice reversible or irreversible?

Irreversible because the ordered arrangement of molecules in the ice crystals is lost and the entropy increases. Irreversible because the ordered arrangement of molecules in the ice crystals is lost and the entropy increases.


When does an irreversible process occurs?

An irreversible process occurs whenever there is an increase in entropy. Entropy can be thought of as a measure of "wasted" energy, that is, energy that cannot be converted to useful work. Therefore any process which results in an increase in entropy wastes some portion of energy that cannot be recovered, and so the process is irreversible.


Why entropy cannot find during irreversible process?

Entropy can be found in an irreversible process, just not directly. Since entropy is a state variable, you can invent a path connecting the initial and final states that does consist of reversible processes and then compute the total equilibrium change for that path.


What happens to entropy when pressure decreases?

When pressure decreases, entropy increases. Increases in entropy correspond to pressure decreases and other irreversible changes in a system. Entropy determines that thermal energy always flows spontaneously from regions of higher temperature to regions of lower temperature, in the form of heat.


Can entropy decrease during a process?

in general entropy will not decrease in a spontaneous process since spontaneous process are all irreversible ones. entropy can be reversed only through an reversible process by an ideal engine but it is impossible to create such an engine by violating second law of thermodynamics. hence entropy cannot be decreased practically


What does wasted energy add too?

Wasted energy will increase the amount of useless, or unusable, energy, and reduce the amount of usable energy in the Universe. The wasted energy is related to entropy - one way to express the Second Law of Thermodynamics is to say that there are irreversible processes (in terms of energy), another is that "entropy increases". However, entropy is not energy; it is not measured in Joule, but in Joule/Kelvin. In any case, you might say that when energy is wasted, entropy increases.Wasted energy will increase the amount of useless, or unusable, energy, and reduce the amount of usable energy in the Universe. The wasted energy is related to entropy - one way to express the Second Law of Thermodynamics is to say that there are irreversible processes (in terms of energy), another is that "entropy increases". However, entropy is not energy; it is not measured in Joule, but in Joule/Kelvin. In any case, you might say that when energy is wasted, entropy increases.Wasted energy will increase the amount of useless, or unusable, energy, and reduce the amount of usable energy in the Universe. The wasted energy is related to entropy - one way to express the Second Law of Thermodynamics is to say that there are irreversible processes (in terms of energy), another is that "entropy increases". However, entropy is not energy; it is not measured in Joule, but in Joule/Kelvin. In any case, you might say that when energy is wasted, entropy increases.Wasted energy will increase the amount of useless, or unusable, energy, and reduce the amount of usable energy in the Universe. The wasted energy is related to entropy - one way to express the Second Law of Thermodynamics is to say that there are irreversible processes (in terms of energy), another is that "entropy increases". However, entropy is not energy; it is not measured in Joule, but in Joule/Kelvin. In any case, you might say that when energy is wasted, entropy increases.


Is entropy of adiabatic compression increase or decrese?

entropy of system for a reversible adiabatic process is equal to zero. entropy of system for a irreversible adiabatic process (like free expansion) can be achieved by the following formula: Delta S= n Cp ln(V2/V1) + n Cv ln (P2/P1)


Is amelting of ice cream is a reversible or irreversible change tell me the answer?

Irreversible because the ordered arrangement of molecules in the ice crystals is lost and the entropy increases. Irreversible because the ordered arrangement of molecules in the ice crystals is lost and the entropy increases.


What is principle of increase of entropy?

There is a rather abstract quantity, called "entropy", that increases in our universe. The mathematical formulation is rather complicated, but here are two alternative formulations:1) There are irreversible processes in the Universe.2) Useful energy is continuously converted into unusable energy. In the future, there will be less useful energy available.


What statement best describes the second law of thermodynamics?

The entropy of the universe is increasing


What is the scientific measure of disorder is called?

This is called entropy.