second law of thermodynamics
Disorder always grows
The second law of thermodynamics states that entropy in an isolated system tends to increase over time—disorder accumulates, energy disperses, and processes move irreversibly toward equilibrium.
A hot cup of coffee cools to room temperature; it never spontaneously reheats.
The law explains why perpetual motion machines are impossible and why time seems to flow in one direction.
Informally invoked to describe any inevitable decline: Entropy wins eventually.
Absence of organization
- randomnessLack of predictable pattern
- irreversibilityState of being permanent
- microstatesExtremely small sovereign nations
- probabilityQuantified chance of occurrence
heat death · information theory · chaos · unpredictability · degradation · decay · disintegration · multiplicity
Thermal-to-mechanical energy converter
- irreversibilityState of being permanent
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- dissipationGradual loss or scattering
- refrigerationHeat removal for preservation
heat pump · power plant · combustion · perpetual motion · losses
Heat transfer through contact
- convectionHeat transfer via motion
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- heat sinkDevice absorbing component warmth
- heat transferMovement of thermal energy
heat exchange · cooling · warming · calorimetry · enthalpy
Exchange-free bounded region
- open systemSystem with external exchanges
- universeComplete system or domain
- surroundingsArea around something
- boundaryLine marking a limit
disorder
Absence of organization
- randomnessLack of predictable pattern
- irreversibilityState of being permanent
- microstatesExtremely small sovereign nations
probability · heat death · information theory · chaos · unpredictability · degradation · decay · disintegration · multiplicity · spontaneity
heat engine
Thermal-to-mechanical energy converter
- irreversibilityState of being permanent
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- dissipationGradual loss or scattering
refrigeration · heat pump · power plant · combustion · perpetual motion · losses
conduction
Heat transfer through contact
- convectionHeat transfer via motion
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- heat sinkDevice absorbing component warmth
heat transfer · heat exchange · cooling · warming · calorimetry · enthalpy
closed system
Exchange-free bounded region
- open systemSystem with external exchanges
- universeComplete system or domain
- surroundingsArea around something
second law of thermodynamicslaw of conservation of energy
Energy cannot be created/destroyed
second law of thermodynamicsspontaneous order
Pattern emerging without design
self-organization · perpetual motion machine · life · crystallization
second, secondly, seconds, seconded, seconding, law, laws, lawful, lawless