3 ms·
Actually, the 2nd law doesn't apply to everything. For example, a single classical planet orbiting a sun will orbit forever. Or, gas particles in a cube box if
by ealloc 12y ago
Actually, the 2nd law doesn't apply to everything. For example, a single classical planet orbiting a sun will orbit forever. Or, gas particles in a cube box if their velocities are perfectly perpendicular to one side of the box. Or a simple harmonic oscillator.
In many physical (classical) systems there is a set of generalized coordinates of measure 0 which does not obey the 2nd law.
- onion2k 12y agoThe second law isn't just "All thermodynamic systems increase in entropy." There's an important bit that follows "..due to the dissipation of energy." The systems you describe are all still limited by the second law - they just won't increase in entropy because they're not dissipating energy. They're all in equilibrium.