Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution: Problem Solving01:20

Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution: Problem Solving

Individual molecules in a gas move in random directions, but a gas containing numerous molecules has a predictable distribution of molecular speeds, which is known as the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, f(v).
This distribution function f(v) is defined by saying that the expected number N (v1,v2) of particles with speeds between v1 and v2 is given by
Maxwell's Thermodynamic Relations01:23

Maxwell's Thermodynamic Relations

Maxwell's thermodynamic relations are very useful in solving problems in thermodynamics. Each of Maxwell's relations relates a partial differential between quantities that can be hard to measure experimentally to a partial differential between quantities that can be easily measured. These relations are a set of equations derivable from the symmetry of the second derivatives and the thermodynamic potentials.
All thermodynamic potentials are exact differentials. Therefore, their second-order...
Maxwell's Equation Of Electromagnetism01:29

Maxwell's Equation Of Electromagnetism

James Clerk Maxwell (1831–1879) was one of the major contributors to physics in the nineteenth century. Although he died young, he made major contributions to the development of the kinetic theory of gases, to the understanding of color vision, and to understanding the nature of Saturn's rings. He is probably best known for having combined existing knowledge on the laws of electricity and magnetism with his insights into a complete overarching electromagnetic theory, which is represented by...
Ampere-Maxwell's Law: Problem-Solving01:17

Ampere-Maxwell's Law: Problem-Solving

A parallel-plate capacitor with capacitance C, whose plates have area A and separation distance d, is connected to a resistor R and a battery of voltage V. The current starts to flow at t = 0. What is the displacement current between the capacitor plates at time t? From the properties of the capacitor, what is the corresponding real current?
To solve the problem, we can use the equations from the analysis of an RC circuit and Maxwell's version of Ampère's law.
For the first part of the problem,...
Symmetry in Maxwell's Equations01:28

Symmetry in Maxwell's Equations

Once the fields have been calculated using Maxwell's four equations, the Lorentz force equation gives the force that the fields exert on a charged particle moving with a certain velocity. The Lorentz force equation combines the force of the electric field and of the magnetic field on the moving charge. Maxwell's equations and the Lorentz force law together encompass all the laws of electricity and magnetism. The symmetry that Maxwell introduced into his mathematical framework may not be...
Energy Conservation and Bernoulli's Equation01:16

Energy Conservation and Bernoulli's Equation

Applying the conservation of energy principle or the work-energy theorem to an incompressible, inviscid fluid in laminar, steady, irrotational flow leads to Bernoulli's equation. It states that the sum of the fluid pressure, potential, and kinetic energy per unit volume is constant along a streamline.
All the terms in the equation have the dimension of energy per unit volume. The kinetic energy per unit volume is called the kinetic energy density, and the potential energy per unit volume is...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A centrin-Sfi1 myoneme fishnet powers ultrafast calcium-triggered contraction in the giant ciliate <i>Spirostomum ambiguum</i>.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Unifying theories in high-dimensional biophysics: approaches, challenges and opportunities.

NPJ systems biology and applications·2026
Same author

Light-Induced Ordered Pattern Formation in 2D Copper Halide Perovskites.

Nano letters·2026
Same author

Non-equilibrium active noise enhances generative memory in diffusion models.

Research square·2026
Same author

Trainable computation in molecular networks.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Neuromodulation-inspired gated associative memory networks: extended memory retrieval and emergent multistability.

ArXiv·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

A Rapid Method for Modeling a Variable Cycle Engine
04:58

A Rapid Method for Modeling a Variable Cycle Engine

Published on: August 13, 2019

Modeling Maxwell's demon with a microcanonical Szilard engine.

Suriyanarayanan Vaikuntanathan1, Christopher Jarzynski

  • 1Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA.

Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|July 30, 2011
PubMed
Summary

This study presents a classical system that appears to violate the second law of thermodynamics by extracting work from a heat bath. The paradox is resolved by linking work extracted to information gained during energy measurement.

More Related Videos

Setting Limits on Supersymmetry Using Simplified Models
07:46

Setting Limits on Supersymmetry Using Simplified Models

Published on: November 15, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 30, 2026

A Rapid Method for Modeling a Variable Cycle Engine
04:58

A Rapid Method for Modeling a Variable Cycle Engine

Published on: August 13, 2019

Setting Limits on Supersymmetry Using Simplified Models
07:46

Setting Limits on Supersymmetry Using Simplified Models

Published on: November 15, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Thermodynamics
  • Statistical Mechanics
  • Information Theory

Background:

  • Recent work by Marathe and Parrondo explored energy reduction in classical systems.
  • The second law of thermodynamics traditionally prohibits perpetual motion machines of the second kind.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To construct a classical Hamiltonian system demonstrating apparent violations of the second law of thermodynamics.
  • To resolve the paradox by establishing a quantitative link between work extraction and information gain.

Main Methods:

  • Construction of a classical Hamiltonian system with adiabatic parameter cycling.
  • Microcanonical sampling of initial conditions.
  • Integration of an energy measurement device.
  • Derivation of a relationship between work and information.

Main Results:

  • The constructed system exhibits energy reduction during adiabatic cycling.
  • A cyclic procedure allows energy extraction from a heat bath and conversion to work.
  • An explicit relationship is derived between average work delivered and average information gained.

Conclusions:

  • The apparent violation of the second law of thermodynamics is resolved by considering information gain.
  • The study provides a framework for understanding the interplay between thermodynamics and information in classical systems.