Timeline for Why diffusion happens?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
5 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| Jul 29, 2020 at 18:34 | comment | added | CGS | As far as exceptions to the second law goes, usually textbook writers employ language like, "even though it is not impossible, one would have to wait longer than the age of the universe for [insert your improbable situation here] to happen". For example, it is technically not impossible that all the gas molecules in a box will suddenly be found on the left hand half of the box - it is just highly, HIGHLY unlikely. So would you trust a law that tells you it is highly unlikely for this to happen? | |
| Jul 29, 2020 at 18:21 | comment | added | Aria | So this 2nd law of thermodynamics, does it have any exception in the world? Can we trust that always? | |
| Jul 29, 2020 at 18:11 | comment | added | CGS | Hi @Aria. Having all your fragrance molecules in one corner of your room is a statistically improbable situation to maintain. We use the term 'non-equilibrium' to define such improbable situations. Because it is improbable, the distribution of fragrance molecules will diffuse to a more probable equilibrium distribution. The approach of a system to equilibrium always involves an increase in entropy - this is one way to state the second law of thermodynamics. | |
| Jul 29, 2020 at 18:05 | comment | added | Aria | Why entropy would like to increase to get uniform fragrance distribution? | |
| Jul 29, 2020 at 17:56 | history | answered | CGS | CC BY-SA 4.0 |