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Related Concept Videos

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...
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...
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...
Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics01:20

Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics

The second law of thermodynamics can be stated quantitatively using the concept of entropy. Entropy is the measure of disorder of the system.
The relation  between entropy and disorder can be illustrated with the example of the phase change of ice to water. In ice, the molecules are located at specific sites giving a solid state, whereas, in a liquid form, these molecules are much freer to move. The molecular arrangement has therefore become more randomized. Although the change in average...
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...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Bulk and Thin Film Synthesis of Compositionally Variant Entropy-stabilized Oxides
09:41

Bulk and Thin Film Synthesis of Compositionally Variant Entropy-stabilized Oxides

Published on: May 29, 2018

Non-equilibrium thermodynamics, maximum entropy production and Earth-system evolution.

Axel Kleidon1

  • 1Max-Planck-Institut für Biogeochemie, Hans-Knöll-Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany. akleidon@bgc-jena.mpg.de

Philosophical Transactions. Series A, Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences
|December 2, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Earth

Area of Science:

  • Earth System Science
  • Non-equilibrium Thermodynamics
  • Planetary Science

Background:

  • The Earth's atmosphere is far from thermodynamic equilibrium, evidenced by high oxygen levels and low humidity.
  • Atmospheric oxygen has increased throughout Earth's history, suggesting a trend away from equilibrium.
  • The principle of maximum entropy production (MEP) may explain how non-equilibrium systems maintain steady states.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the application of MEP to the Earth system at a planetary scale.
  • To investigate the trend of Earth system evolution away from thermodynamic equilibrium.
  • To provide a holistic thermodynamic theory for Earth system functioning.

Main Methods:

  • Describing the non-equilibrium thermodynamic nature of Earth processes.

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Adaptation at the Extremes of Life: Experimental Evolution with the Extremophile Archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius
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Adaptation at the Extremes of Life: Experimental Evolution with the Extremophile Archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius

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Last Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Bulk and Thin Film Synthesis of Compositionally Variant Entropy-stabilized Oxides
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Bulk and Thin Film Synthesis of Compositionally Variant Entropy-stabilized Oxides

Published on: May 29, 2018

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

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  • Distinguishing processes driving the system away from and towards equilibrium.
  • Formulating interactions from a thermodynamic perspective for a holistic planetary view.

    • Main Results:

    • Justification and demonstration of MEP's application to the Earth system.
    • Formulation of Earth's holistic thermodynamic state.
    • Identification of evolutionary trends driven by processes away from equilibrium.

    Conclusions:

    • Non-equilibrium thermodynamics and MEP offer a holistic theory for Earth system functioning.
    • This theory can explain past evolutionary trends, the role of life, habitability, and human impacts.
    • Understanding these principles is crucial for evaluating Earth's past, present, and future.