Thermodynamics
LtCmd.Lore (Talk | contribs) (→Counter-apologetics: Probably needs correction, but better than nothing.) |
Quantheory (Talk | contribs) m (→Apologetics/Counter-apologetics) |
||
| (6 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown) | |||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
===Second=== | ===Second=== | ||
There is no process that, operating in a cycle, produces no other effect than the subtraction of a positive amount of heat from a reservoir and the production of an equal amount of work. | There is no process that, operating in a cycle, produces no other effect than the subtraction of a positive amount of heat from a reservoir and the production of an equal amount of work. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Alternatively: | ||
| + | |||
| + | The entropy of an isolated macroscopic system not in equilibrium will tend to increase over time, approaching a maximum value at equilibrium. | ||
===Third=== | ===Third=== | ||
| Line 21: | Line 25: | ||
#And you can't get out of the game. | #And you can't get out of the game. | ||
| − | ==Apologetics | + | ==Apologetics/Counter-apologetics== |
| − | + | {{main article|Argument from the second law of thermodynamics}} | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | Creationists sometimes claim that evolution contradicts the second law of thermodynamics. This is usually due to a misunderstanding of what the second law actually says, or else due to the false assumption that the Earth is an isolated (closed) system. | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | There is also a rough thermodynamic argument against the existence of an orderly God that could create the universe. | |
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
* [http://www.secondlaw.com/ secondlaw.com] explains the second law of thermodynamics. | * [http://www.secondlaw.com/ secondlaw.com] explains the second law of thermodynamics. | ||
* [http://www.2ndlaw.com/ 2ndlaw.com] fields questions generated by the previous site, including issues with evolution. | * [http://www.2ndlaw.com/ 2ndlaw.com] fields questions generated by the previous site, including issues with evolution. | ||
| − | |||
[[Category:Science]] | [[Category:Science]] | ||
Latest revision as of 18:56, 15 June 2010
Thermodynamics is the study of the transfer of heat energy. There are three main laws of thermodynamics, the second being frequently brought into arguments against evolution.
Contents |
Laws
First
In any process, the total energy of the universe remains constant.
Second
There is no process that, operating in a cycle, produces no other effect than the subtraction of a positive amount of heat from a reservoir and the production of an equal amount of work.
Alternatively:
The entropy of an isolated macroscopic system not in equilibrium will tend to increase over time, approaching a maximum value at equilibrium.
Third
As temperature approaches absolute zero, the entropy of a system approaches a constant.
Alternative descriptions
The laws of thermodynamics have also been described in a tongue-in-cheek way as:
- You can't win.
- You can't break even.
- And you can't get out of the game.
Apologetics/Counter-apologetics
- Main Article: Argument from the second law of thermodynamics
Creationists sometimes claim that evolution contradicts the second law of thermodynamics. This is usually due to a misunderstanding of what the second law actually says, or else due to the false assumption that the Earth is an isolated (closed) system.
There is also a rough thermodynamic argument against the existence of an orderly God that could create the universe.
External links
- secondlaw.com explains the second law of thermodynamics.
- 2ndlaw.com fields questions generated by the previous site, including issues with evolution.
