Classical Physics

   

Entropy and 'the Arrow of Time', a Love Story

Authors: Constantinos Ragazas

In this short note we offer a new definition of entropy and derive an interesting relationship between entropy and time. In light of this relationship, we show how The Second Law of Thermodynamics can be interpreted as saying that every physical process requires a lapse of time. In simple language, the Second Law says that 'everything happens over some positive time-interval'. This defines 'the arrow of time'. This understanding of entropy maintains the reciprocal relationship between entropy and temperature, makes entropy 'additive', and preserves the notion that entropy provides a measure of 'available energy' to do work. What does change, however, is the idea that entropy is a measure of disorder, and the Universe is doomed to thermal death.

Comments: 4 pages

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Submission history

[v1] 26 Jul 2010
[v2] 4 Aug 2010

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