The second law of thermodynamics states that spontaneous processestend to be accompanied by entropy increase. Consider, however, thefollowing spontaneous processes:

the growth of plants from simple seeds to well-organizedsystems

the growth of a fertilized egg from a single cell to a complexadult organism

the formation of snowflakes from molecules of liquid water withrandom motion to a highly ordered crystal

the growth of organized knowledge over time

In all these cases, systems evolve to a state of less disorder andlower entropy, apparently violating the second law ofthermodynamics. Could we, then, consider them as processesoccurring in systems that are not isolated?

True or False?

Question

Physics

Ashtyn Andersen

11 August, 04:26

The second law of thermodynamics states that spontaneous processestend to be accompanied by entropy increase. Consider, however, thefollowing spontaneous processes:

the growth of plants from simple seeds to well-organizedsystems

the growth of a fertilized egg from a single cell to a complexadult organism

the formation of snowflakes from molecules of liquid water withrandom motion to a highly ordered crystal

the growth of organized knowledge over time

In all these cases, systems evolve to a state of less disorder andlower entropy, apparently violating the second law ofthermodynamics. Could we, then, consider them as processesoccurring in systems that are not isolated?

True or False?

+5

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Steven Hooper · Answer 1

True

Explanation:

According to the definition of a closed system, It is true because it's not precisely a closed system. A closed system is a physical system that doesn't let certain types of transfers (such as transfer of mass in or out of the system), though the transfer of energy is allowed.