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Related Concept Videos

Entropy02:39

Entropy

Salt particles that have dissolved in water never spontaneously come back together in solution to reform solid particles. Moreover, a gas that has expanded in a vacuum remains dispersed and never spontaneously reassembles. The unidirectional nature of these phenomena is the result of a thermodynamic state function called entropy (S). Entropy is the measure of the extent to which the energy is dispersed throughout a system, or in other words, it is proportional to the degree of disorder of a...
Entropy01:18

Entropy

The first law of thermodynamics is quantitatively formulated via an equation relating the internal energy of a system, the heat exchanged by it, and the work done on it. A quantitative formulation of the second law of thermodynamics leads to defining a state function, the entropy.
When an ideal gas expands isothermally, the disorder in the gas increases. From the molecular perspective, the gas molecules have more volume to move around in.
Consider an infinitesimal step in the expansion, which...
The Second Law of Thermodynamics01:14

The Second Law of Thermodynamics

In the quest to identify a property that may reliably predict the spontaneity of a process, a promising candidate has been identified: entropy. Scientists refer to the measure of randomness or disorder within a system as entropy. High entropy means high disorder and low energy. To better understand entropy, think of a student’s bedroom. If no energy or work were put into it, the room would quickly become messy. It would exist in a very disordered state, one of high entropy. Energy must be put...
Second Law of Thermodynamics02:49

Second Law of Thermodynamics

In the quest to identify a property that may reliably predict the spontaneity of a process, a promising candidate has been identified: entropy. Processes that involve an increase in entropy of the system (ΔS > 0) are very often spontaneous; however, examples to the contrary are plentiful. By expanding consideration of entropy changes to include the surroundings, a significant conclusion regarding the relation between this property and spontaneity may be reached. In thermodynamic models, the...
Second Law of Thermodynamics00:53

Second Law of Thermodynamics

The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that entropy, or the amount of disorder in a system, increases each time energy is transferred or transformed. Each energy transfer results in a certain amount of energy that is lost—usually in the form of heat—that increases the disorder of the surroundings. This can also be demonstrated in a classic food web. Herbivores harvest chemical energy from plants and release heat and carbon dioxide into the environment. Carnivores harvest the chemical energy...
Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics01:26

Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics

Consider an isolated system in which a hot object is placed in contact with a cold one. This is an irreversible process that eventually leads both objects to reach the same equilibrium temperature. It is crucial to note that the constituents of any substance exhibit increased disorder at higher temperatures. As a cold substance absorbs heat, its constituents become more disordered. The energy transfer from a hotter object to a cooler one increases the system's disorder or randomness. This...

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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Unraveling Entropic Rate Acceleration Induced by Solvent Dynamics in Membrane Enzymes
09:42

Unraveling Entropic Rate Acceleration Induced by Solvent Dynamics in Membrane Enzymes

Published on: January 16, 2016

Entropy and environmental mystery.

Arthur E Stamps1

  • 1Institute of Environmental Quality, 290 Rutledge Street, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA. artstamps@att.net

Perceptual and Motor Skills
|August 11, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Darker environments and visual complexity increase perceptions of mystery. This study links subjective mystery to objective measures of potential information, finding that visual diversity (entropy) in occluded objects enhances mystery.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Psychology
  • Information Theory
  • Perception Science

Background:

  • Environmental preference theories suggest mystery can be quantified by the perceived potential for additional information within an environment.
  • Mystery, a subjective impression, was previously difficult to operationalize objectively in physical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of visual entropy, lighting, and occlusion on perceived mystery in physical environments.
  • To establish an objective, experimentally manipulatable measure for the "promise of more information" within an environment.
  • To test the informational theory of environmental preference by linking subjective mystery to objective environmental properties.

Main Methods:

  • Two experiments were conducted with a total of 31 participants, using 12 stimuli each.

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Last Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Unraveling Entropic Rate Acceleration Induced by Solvent Dynamics in Membrane Enzymes
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Published on: January 16, 2016

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An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids

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  • Visual diversity was quantified using information theory (entropy).
  • The "promise of more information" was operationalized as the entropy of occluded objects, ranging from 0 to 6 bits.

    • Main Results:

    • Environmental lighting had the strongest correlation with perceived mystery (r = -.63), with darker scenes perceived as more mysterious.
    • Occlusion also positively influenced mystery perceptions (r = .26).
    • The entropy of occluded objects, representing the promise of more information, showed a moderate positive correlation with mystery (r = .13).

    Conclusions:

    • Subjective impressions of mystery are significantly influenced by objective environmental factors like lighting and visual complexity.
    • The study provides empirical support for the informational theory by establishing a measurable link between perceived mystery and the objective "promise of more information."
    • Entropy of occluded objects serves as a viable operational definition for the promise of further information, enhancing environmental mystery.