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3.6
Entropy is not conserved
Entropy
- Unlike energy functions, entropy is not conserved in natural process or in isolated systems.
- For example, consider heat transfer between two objects with different temperature TI and TII (TI > TI)in an isolated system. The two objects are connected by a thermal conductor such as a copper wire. The heat will flow from the high temperature side (I) to the low temperature side (II). Assuming no heat loss, the heat from I will go into II, thus =−
- The internal energy change of the whole system (I+II) is thus zero.
∆=+=+=0
The energy is conserved. - Let’s consider the entropy change of the whole system (I+II).
Insert the relation =−
The entropy of this isolated system is not conserved. This heat flow is spontaneous and irreversible and the irreversibility cause entropy increase.
