Chapter 24, Problem 21A

With respect to orderly and disorderly states, what do natural systems tend to do? Can a disorderly state ever transform to an orderly state? Explain.

To determine

The state that natural systems tend to with respect to orderly or disorderly states.

To identify: Whether a disorderly state ever transform to an orderly state or not.

Answer to Problem 21A

All-natural systems tend to disorderly state. Yes, a disorderly state can be transformed into an orderly state by giving work to the system.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

According to the second law of thermodynamics, the total entropy of an isolated system remains constant.

Entropy is the state of molecule disorder, the randomness of a system. Every system remains to stay in equilibrium. When that equilibrium disturbs then, energy is released and the system goes in the state of disturbance i.e. entropy of the system increases.

For every natural system, molecular collisions occur which increases the heat and entropy of the system. When the cover of the jar releases and put wide open, then molecules inside go out in the disorderly fashion.

When collisions occur in the system, then equilibrium disturbs. The system goes in the state of disturbance i.e. entropy of the system increases. Now, to decrease the entropy of a system i.e. to bring the system in a state of orderly manner, external work must be done on the system. Thus, with the given work input, the system reaches towards an equilibrium state, decreasing entropy.

Conclusion:

Thus, with the increasing collisions, the heat, or temperature of the natural system increases, increases the entropy of the system. So, all-natural systems tend to disorderly state to disturb the equilibrium. A disorderly state can only be transformed into an orderly state by giving work to the system.