Entropy

Entropy is a scientific term used to describe the amount of disorder or randomness in a system. The concept of entropy is the key behind the Second Law of Thermodynamics and is an important limiting factor in many physical processes studied in thermodynamics. Even the arrow of time, is given it's direction by the second law and the requirement that no process can decrease total entropy of a system.

In an isolated system, a process can occur only if it increases the total entropy of the system.

Entropy is a scientific term used to describe the amount of disorder or randomness in a system. The concept of entropy is the key behind the Second Law of Thermodynamics and is an important limiting factor in many physical processes studied in thermodynamics. Even the arrow of time, is given it's direction by the second law and the requirement that no process can decrease total entropy of a system.

1. Also related to Information Theory

2. Originated by Rudolph Clausius in the 1850's

3. Central to the Second Law of Thermodynamics

4. Associated with the amount of order and disorder

5. Symbolzed by a capital letter "S"

</small> In an isolated system, a process can occur only if it increases the total entropy of the system. </note>

• Maximum Entropy Modeling: What Is Maximum Entropy Modeling?

• Wikipedia: Entropy (Ecology) | Entropy (Energy Dispersal)

• Occidental College: Configurational Entropy Revisited (85 KB)

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