Exploring the Laws of Thermodynamics & the Big Bang

In summary: So even if the entropy theory is true, the universe's entropy would be increasing. This doesn't seem to be the case. In summary, the Oxford Dictionary of Science does not support the claim that the "constant formation of coherent sub-systems...like atoms, molecules, organisms, stars and galaxies" is a result of increased entropy. Further, the expansion of the universe does not seem to support the claim that the Universe is "losing heat" and is in fact "cooling."
  • #1
M. Gaspar
679
1
If one thinks of the Universe as a closed system -- with the conservation of energy firmly in place -- how can there EVER be in the aggregate a "decrease in the system's ability to do work" ...or "a decrease in the energy available" (from Oxford's Dictionary of Science)?

Further, if this "Second Law of Thermodynamics" is "true" -- that "any real change to a closed system tends toward higher entropy, and therefore, higher disorder" -- how do we/you explain the evidence to the contrary: the constant formation of coherent sub-systems...like atoms, molecules, organisms, stars and galaxies (NOT a comprehensive list!)?

If the Universe is indeed "losing heat" -- where is the heat going?

Finally, might not the same "cooling" of the System that caused elementary particles to "condense out" of the "primal energy" just after the Big Bang ...might not this same "cooling" that is predicted as part of the current "eternal expansion" theories cause ANOTHER "phase transition" that produces "matter" out of energy, thereby INCREASING THE OVERALL GRAVITY of the System to cause It's eventual COLLAPSE?

And if not, why not?
 
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  • #2
Do you have any strong evidence of "the constant formation of coherent sub-systems...like atoms, molecules, organisms, stars and galaxies". I believe that whether atoms are being constantly formed is an open question and that the formation macro objects is a local phenomenon resulting in increased entropy in the rest of the universe.

In any case, increased entropy does not imply "cooling". Entropy simply means the "uniformization" of energy. In it's simplest form, hot stars give of heat cooling themselves while warming space so that energy becomes uniformly distributed through the universe.

Notice that the quotes you give do NOT say a decrease in energy but rather "available energy". It is energy differences that make energy "available".
 
  • #3
Couple points: "order/disorder" is a flawed (specious, idiotic, ill-informed, unread, pick your own favorite perjorative) analogy for the concept of entropy; restriction of the second law to "closed systems," as inevitably occurs in these threads, is an indicator of an incomplete education in thermodynamics (or a mechanical engineering or physics background).

Entropy is a thermodynamic state function; it was derived/defined/developed from the first law (conservation) statement in the first half of the 19th century --- it includes NO specifications regarding "order, organization, coherence, or any other hand-waving appeals to intuition." The second law applies to the universe (everything), and states that the entropy of the universe increases for any observed change in any system (part of the universe separate from the system surroundings), be it open, closed, or isolated.

Klar?
 
  • #4
Originally posted by HallsofIvy
Do you have any strong evidence of "the constant formation of coherent sub-systems...like atoms, molecules, organisms, stars and galaxies".
Look around.

I believe that whether atoms are being constantly formed is an open question
Really? And I thought that this is what going on within stars all the time.

and that the formation macro objects is a local phenomenon resulting in increased entropy in the rest of the universe.
So what? When someone (and I ain't talkin' about "God") creates something -- a painting, for instance -- we don't ignore the painting and point to the floor and say "Look at all that mess!" If the Universe draws energy from one part of Its System to create a coherent, dynamic sub-system -- and if It's DOING IT ALL THE TIME -- then there's your evidence for the constant formation of macro objects

In any case, increased entropy does not imply "cooling".
Well, according to the Oxford Dictionary of Science (ODS) "thermodynamics" refers to "the conversion of energy from one form to another, the direction that heat will flow, and the availability of energy to do the work."

The ODS further explains that thermodynamics is "based on the concept that in an isolated system anywhere in the Universe there is a measurable quantity of energy called the internal energy -- U of the system. This is the total kinetic and potential energy of the atoms and molecules of the system of all kinds that can be transferred directly as heat (therefore excluding chemical and nuclear energy). The value of U can only be changed if the system ceases to be isolated."

My POINT is that IF the Universe IS an "closed" and "isolated" System (ignoring theories of "multiverses" for a moment), then ENTROPY cannot, in fact, take place because the Universe would have ALL OF ITS ENERGY -- in one form or another -- ALL OF THE TIME.

Entropy simply means the "uniformization" of energy. In it's simplest form, hot stars give of heat cooling themselves while warming space so that energy becomes uniformly distributed through the Universe.
And yet, from the Big Bang up to this very moment, "hot spots" of dynamic, coherent sub-systems (like stars, as an example) form, use up their energy and disperse their "ingredients" so that the same thing can take place elsewhere in the Universe.

That's why -- I think -- we call it "dynamic".

Notice that the quotes you give do NOT say a decrease in energy but rather "available energy". It is energy differences that make energy "available".
And if the Universe CONSERVES Its ENERGY as an ISOLATED SYSTEM...then It's energy is always available from somewhere.

Thus -- in the aggregate -- entropy cannot be taking place.

And I'm sure someone will tell me why I'm wrong.
 
  • #5
Originally posted by Bystander
Couple points: "order/disorder" is a flawed (specious, idiotic, ill-informed, unread, pick your own favorite perjorative) analogy for the concept of entropy; restriction of the second law to "closed systems," as inevitably occurs in these threads, is an indicator of an incomplete education in thermodynamics (or a mechanical engineering or physics background).

Entropy is a thermodynamic state function; it was derived/defined/developed from the first law (conservation) statement in the first half of the 19th century --- it includes NO specifications regarding "order, organization, coherence, or any other hand-waving appeals to intuition." The second law applies to the universe (everything), and states that the entropy of the universe increases for any observed change in any system (part of the universe separate from the system surroundings), be it open, closed, or isolated.
So, you are saying that the ODS (as referenced above) should be pronouncd -- and considered -- "ODIOUS" because it says:

"In a wider sense entropy can be interpreted as a measure of disorder; the higher the entropy the greater the disorder."

However, the ODS and I part company in the NEXT sentence, which reads: As any real change to a closed system tends toward higher entropy, and therefore higher disorder, it follows that the entropy of the Universe (my cap) (if it can be considered a closed system) is increasing and its available energy is decreasing."

See my response to HallsofIvy for my take on this.

The odious ODS then says "see heat death of the Universe"...which is what I will address in my next post here.

Meanwhile, Tom, where are you?
 
  • #6
More from the Oxford Dictionary of Science (ODS/odious?):

"heat death of the universe...the condition of the universe when entropy is maximized and all large-scale samples of matter are at a uniform temperature. In this condition no energy is available for doing work and the universe is finally unwound."

My question is this: if the Universe conserves Its energy in some "form"...how could entropy occur?

Or, where did the energy go?

By the way, Bystander, per your last post: where did I use the word "intuition"? The process of organization -- the accretion of systems through the forces in the physical domain (i.e., weak, strong, gravity and what have you) -- could be completely mechanistic.

...or not. :wink:
 
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  • #7
the definition of enropy is a lot simpler than it looks and not half as mystical as its made out to be.

take a glass of hot water and cold water and pour them together. you have just incresed the total entropy of the system because you cannot separate the two again. there was potencial for the energy in the hot water to do work, but now there is less or none.

entropy: a measurement of the total energy in a sysem which is not available to do work.
 
  • #8
Originally posted by maximus
the definition of enropy is a lot simpler than it looks and not half as mystical as its made out to be.

take a glass of hot water and cold water and pour them together. you have just incresed the total entropy of the system because you cannot separate the two again. there was potencial for the energy in the hot water to do work, but now there is less or none.

entropy: a measurement of the total energy in a sysem which is not available to do work.

Thanks, Maximus. That was useful.

Yet, the Universe -- up until now, anyway -- continues to create "hot spots" -- stars and galaxies -- as matter accretes via the force (bending of space, if you must) of gravity. And even when these hot spots "blow!"...their material does not remain diffused within the Universe but, over time, comes together again to form new hot spots.

In fact, the only time that the matter and energy of the Universe was "diffused" was right after the Big Bang. Since then, it has been spending all of its time coming together into sub-systems -- then falling or blowing apart again...etc.

There does not seem to be -- as yet -- a "mixing" inseparately of the hot and not-so-hot. Instead, we seem to almost have a "cosmic weather system" going on, with systems that "burn off energy" to sustain a cosmic equilibrium.

I look forward to anything you may have to say about this.

Meanwhile, I don't remember saying that I -- or the Oxford Dictionary of Science -- said that entropy was "mystical".
 
  • #9
It's the expansion of the Universe

which makes it not behave like a closed system. So while you may treat parts of the universe as closed in the thermodynamic sense, on the large scale it is anything but closed. So while smaller systems may tend to go to states of higher entropy they may take a long time getting there.
 
  • #10


Originally posted by Tyger
which makes it not behave like a closed system. So while you may treat parts of the universe as closed in the thermodynamic sense, on the large scale it is anything but closed. So while smaller systems may tend to go to states of higher entropy they may take a long time getting there.

Please say more about how the expansion of the Universe keeps it from behaving like a closed system.

Also, is it true that ALL systems eventually dissipate over time? And if so, would not their energy -- and their matter -- be "absorbed" elsewhere ...rendering NOTHING a "closed system"?

Is it thought that, in the current eternal expansion model of the Universe that, eventually, EVERYTHING will cool to the same temperature, thereby having no "energy available to do work"?

Thanks for your help.
 
  • #11


Originally posted by M. Gaspar


Is it thought that, in the current eternal expansion model of the Universe that, eventually, EVERYTHING will cool to the same temperature, thereby having no "energy available to do work"?

Thanks for your help.

That is exactly what it means, at least by my understanding. It is the difference in heat content in one region compared to another that is energy available to do work. Once the energy level is the same everywhere, whether it is absolute zero or 10,000,000 degress there is no energy available to do work.

On a cosmological scale, the universe is then completely wound down and nothing else happens forever except continued expansion due to momentum. That is unless there is enough matter/energy in the universe to have enough gravity to stop the expansion momentum of the universe and then begin contracting back toward the Big Crunch/Big Bang.
 
  • #12


Originally posted by Royce
That is exactly what it means, at least by my understanding. It is the difference in heat content in one region compared to another that is energy available to do work. Once the energy level is the same everywhere, whether it is absolute zero or 10,000,000 degress there is no energy available to do work.

On a cosmological scale, the universe is then completely wound down and nothing else happens forever except continued expansion due to momentum. That is unless there is enough matter/energy in the universe to have enough gravity to stop the expansion momentum of the universe and then begin contracting back toward the Big Crunch/Big Bang.

That's what I'm counting on! :wink:
 

What are the laws of thermodynamics?

The laws of thermodynamics are fundamental principles that govern the behavior of energy and matter in the universe. The first law states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or converted from one form to another. The second law states that the total entropy of a closed system will always increase over time. The third law states that as temperature approaches absolute zero, the entropy of a system also approaches zero.

How do the laws of thermodynamics relate to the Big Bang?

The Big Bang theory is based on the laws of thermodynamics, specifically the second law. The universe began as a highly ordered and dense state, and as it expanded, it became more disordered and less dense. This is known as the increase of entropy. The laws of thermodynamics also support the idea that the universe is constantly expanding and cooling, as predicted by the Big Bang theory.

What evidence supports the Big Bang theory?

One of the key pieces of evidence for the Big Bang theory is the cosmic microwave background radiation. This is a faint glow of energy that permeates the universe and is believed to be leftover radiation from the initial explosion of the Big Bang. Other evidence includes the abundance of light elements in the universe, the redshift of galaxies, and the large-scale structure of the universe.

How does the Big Bang relate to the concept of a singularity?

The Big Bang theory suggests that the universe began as a singularity, a point of infinite density and temperature. This singularity expanded rapidly, creating the universe as we know it. However, the concept of a singularity is still not fully understood and remains a topic of debate among scientists.

What are some current studies and research related to the Big Bang and thermodynamics?

Scientists continue to study and research the Big Bang and thermodynamics in various ways. Some are using telescopes and satellites to gather more data about the cosmic microwave background radiation, while others are conducting experiments and simulations to better understand the behavior of matter and energy in extreme conditions, such as those present during the Big Bang. Additionally, researchers are also exploring the concept of dark energy, which is believed to be the driving force behind the expansion of the universe, in relation to the laws of thermodynamics.

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