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Chapter 19: Problem 12

Why doesn't the evolution of human civilization violate the second law of thermodynamics?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The evolution of human civilization doesn't violate the second law of thermodynamics because, although building and sustaining civilization reduces entropy (increases order), these actions require input of energy which increases entropy elsewhere. Consequently, the total entropy of our non-isolated system, earth, or the universe, does not decrease, thus abiding by the law.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the Second Law of Thermodynamics

The second law of thermodynamics is one of the fundamental laws of physics and it essentially tells us that the entropy (disorder) of an isolated system will increase or remain constant; it will not decrease. Entropy can be thought of as a measure of chaos or disorder in a system. When physical processes occur spontaneously, meaning without the extra input or removal of energy, they will increase the total entropy of the universe.
02

Understanding the Definition of 'Isolated System'

An isolated system in science refers to a physical system so far removed from other systems that it doesn't interact with them. It is enclosed from all aspects meaning there is no exchange of mass or energy happening with its surrounding. The earth, on which human civilization grows and develops, is not a truly isolated system since it receives energy from the sun.
03

Applying the Concept to Human Civilization

Human civilization's evolution is an entropy-decreasing process. Cities are more ordered than forests, libraries are more ordered than a pile of books. However, these processes do not happen spontaneously but require energy input. For example, to build a city, we input energy into construction, powering tools, refining materials, planning, and so forth. This energy input increases the entropy in another part of the system and thus the overall entropy of the universe still increases or at least, does not decrease. Hence, the evolution of human civilization doesn't violate the second law of thermodynamics.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A refrigerator maintains an interior temperature of \(4^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) while its exhaust temperature is \(30^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\). The refrigerator's insulation is imperfect, and heat leaks in at the rate of 340 W. Assuming the refrigerator is reversible, at what rate must it consume electrical energy to maintain a constant \(4^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) interior?

Could you heat the kitchen by leaving the oven open? Explain.

The molar specific heat at constant pressure for a certain gas is given by \(C_{p}=a+b T+c T^{2},\) where \(a=33.6 \mathrm{J} / \mathrm{mol} \cdot \mathrm{K}\) \(\mathrm{b}=2.93 \times 10^{-3} \mathrm{J} / \mathrm{mol} \cdot \mathrm{K}^{2},\) and \(c=2.13 \times 10^{-5} \mathrm{J} / \mathrm{mol} \cdot \mathrm{K}^{3} .\) Find the entropy change when 2.00 moles of this gas are heated from \(20.0^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) to \(200^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\)

How much energy becomes unavailable for work in an isothermal process at \(440 \mathrm{K},\) if the entropy increase is \(25 \mathrm{J} / \mathrm{K} ?\)

A 6.36 -mol sample of ideal diatomic gas is at 1.00 atm pressure and \(288 \mathrm{K}\). Find the entropy change as the gas is heated reversibly to \(552 \mathrm{K}\) (a) at constant volume, (b) at constant pressure, and (c) adiabatically.
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