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Wolfram is right to draw attention to a puzzle in physics: why does the universe as a whole seem to be getting more ordered, but the 2nd law of thermodynamics s
by tlocke 4y ago
Wolfram is right to draw attention to a puzzle in physics: why does the universe as a whole seem to be getting more ordered, but the 2nd law of thermodynamics suggests it should become more disordered?
Julian Barbour's solution to this puzzle is to point out that the second law only applies to a system 'in a box'. The universe is not 'in a box' and so the second law doesn't apply to the universe as a whole.
- ianburrell 4y agoWhat makes you think that the universe is getting more ordered? It might look that way if you look at visible stuff and ignore the waste heat. Stars are giant entropy sources throwing out light and plasma. On planets, that light can be used for work, making life, but nearly all of it ends up as heat. Also, the 2nd law of thermodynamics is only about thermodynamics. Other forces, like gravity squishing things or strong force making fusion can provide order and extra energy. But it is temporary, there will eventually be no more gas to collect and fuse. Then all there is cooling off into the void.