Golden Earring wrote: > The Second Law of Thermodynamics which gives us the concept of entropy > (essentially a measure of disorder, which must stay constant or more > usually increase with time) is the only bit of maths in Physics which is > not reversible in time, & gives rise to the idea of "The Arrow Of Time" > which is sadly consuming us all.
To be more precise, I believe that the definition of entropy has recently been redefined to allow strictly -*loca​l*- temporary reductions in entropy (i.e. increases in order) within the universe (caused by such strange phenomena as life, for example), but only if the net effect over a longer period is an even greater increase in entropy (disorder) than would otherwise have been the case. Given the increasingly apparent results of our recent terraforming of our planet as soon as our improving technology presented us with the opportunity, this would seem to be entirely reasonable revision to the original formulation & (unfortunately for us) entirely consistent with the evidence presently available... Entropy can appear on first encounter to be a rather depressing concept - I remember being a bit rattled by it when the penny dropped whilst I was studying the accursed Thermodynamics in my first year at Oxford, although I've become stoically indifferent to the implications over the years. It is interesting to note that Boltzmann who formalised the concept committed suicide subsequently. The rejection of his work by his peers may have been a factor as well, or alternatively it may just have been a sudden & intense mood change that prompted his action. I don't think that he himself left us any explanation by way of note so his reasons must remain a matter for speculation. Dave (trying to stay :) ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Golden Earring's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=66646 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=106914 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
