scholarly journals Answering Schrödinger’s “What Is Life?”

Entropy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart Kauffman
Keyword(s):  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Second Law Of Thermodynamics ◽  
Second Law ◽  
Extended Version ◽  
Equilibrium Processes ◽  
Thermodynamic Work ◽  
Evolution Of Life ◽  
The Face ◽  
Production Of Entropy ◽  
Solid He

In his “What Is Life?” Schrödinger poses three questions: (1) What is the source of order in organisms? (2) How do organisms remain ordered in the face of the Second Law of Thermodynamics? (3) Are new laws of physics required? He answers his first question with his famous “aperiodic solid”. He leaves his second and third questions unanswered. I try to show that his first answer is also the answer to his second question. Aperiodic solids such as protein enzymes are “boundary conditions” that constrain the release of energy into a few degrees of freedom in non-equilibrium processes such that thermodynamic work is done. This work propagates and builds structures and controls processes. These constitute his causally efficacious “code script” controlling development. The constrained release of energy also delays the production of entropy that can be exported from cells as it forms. Therefore, cells remain ordered. This answers his second question. However, “What is life?” must also ask about the diachronic evolution of life. Here, the surprising answer to this extended version of Schrödinger’s third question is that there are no new entailing laws of physics. No laws at all entail the evolution of ours or any biosphere.

scholarly journals A Derivation of the Main Relations of Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir N. Pokrovskii
Keyword(s):  
Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics ◽  
Second Law Of Thermodynamics ◽  
Thermodynamic System ◽  
Internal Variables ◽  
Second Law ◽  
Basic Principles ◽  
First Law Of Thermodynamics ◽  
Sum Of Products ◽  
Thermodynamic Forces ◽  
Production Of Entropy

The principles of nonequilibrium thermodynamics are discussed, using the concept of internal variables that describe deviations of a thermodynamic system from the equilibrium state. While considering the first law of thermodynamics, work of internal variables is taken into account. It is shown that the requirement that the thermodynamic system cannot fulfil any work via internal variables is equivalent to the conventional formulation of the second law of thermodynamics. These statements, in line with the axioms introducing internal variables can be considered as basic principles of nonequilibrium thermodynamics. While considering stationary nonequilibrium situations close to equilibrium, it is shown that known linear parities between thermodynamic forces and fluxes and also the production of entropy, as a sum of products of thermodynamic forces and fluxes, are consequences of fundamental principles of thermodynamics.

GRAVITATION AND THE SECOND LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS

2004 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 2329-2335
Author(s):  
ANDREW CHAMBLIN ◽  
JOSHUA ERLICH
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Gravitational Field ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Second Law Of Thermodynamics ◽  
Second Law ◽  
Gravitational Entropy ◽  
Entropy Bound

Just as gravitons can carry energy, they can also be used to transmit information. It follows that an entropy should be associated with gravitational degrees of freedom, independent of the presence or absence of black holes. In this essay, we discuss how one might count gravitational entropy given a classical gravitational field. Our suggestion is motivated by a derivation of the covariant entropy bound in which a gravitational term appears naturally.

First and second laws of thermodynamics: relationship, “inconsistency”, hidden effects

2020 ◽  
pp. 63-73
Author(s):  
A. M. Savchenko ◽  
Yu. V. Konovalov ◽  
A. V. Laushkin
Keyword(s):  
Free Energy ◽  
Internal Energy ◽  
Second Law Of Thermodynamics ◽  
Second Law ◽  
Entropy Of Mixing ◽  
Ideal Mixing ◽  
Laws Of Thermodynamics ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

The relationship of the first and second laws of thermodynamics based on their energy nature is considered. It is noted that the processes described by the second law of thermodynamics often take place hidden within the system, which makes it difficult to detect them. Nevertheless, even with ideal mixing, an increase in the internal energy of the system occurs, numerically equal to an increase in free energy. The largest contribution to the change in the value of free energy is made by the entropy of mixing, which has energy significance. The entropy of mixing can do the job, which is confirmed in particular by osmotic processes.

The Analogical Turn (1884–1887)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivier Darrigol
Keyword(s):  
Boltzmann Equation ◽  
Statistical Mechanics ◽  
Mechanical System ◽  
Thermal Equilibrium ◽  
Special Kind ◽  
Second Law Of Thermodynamics ◽  
Second Law ◽  
Equipartition Theorem ◽  
Royal Road ◽  
H Theorem

This chapter recounts how Boltzmann reacted to Hermann Helmholtz’s analogy between thermodynamic systems and a special kind of mechanical system (the “monocyclic systems”) by grouping all attempts to relate thermodynamics to mechanics, including the kinetic-molecular analogy, into a family of partial analogies all derivable from what we would now call a microcanonical ensemble. At that time, Boltzmann regarded ensemble-based statistical mechanics as the royal road to the laws of thermal equilibrium (as we now do). In the same period, he returned to the Boltzmann equation and the H theorem in reply to Peter Guthrie Tait’s attack on the equipartition theorem. He also made a non-technical survey of the second law of thermodynamics seen as a law of probability increase.

First and Second Law Analysis of a Flat Plate Collector Working With Nanofluids

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. T. Nitsas ◽  
I. P. Koronaki ◽  
L. Prentza
Keyword(s):  
Flat Plate ◽  
Second Law Of Thermodynamics ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Second Law ◽  
Inlet Temperature ◽  
Water Tank ◽  
Systems Quality ◽  
Typical Day ◽  
Flat Plate Collector

The utilization of solar energy in thermal energy systems was and always be one of the most effective alternative to conventional energy resources. Energy efficiency is widely used as one of the most important parameters in order to evaluate and compare thermal systems including solar collectors. Nevertheless, the first law of thermodynamics is not solely capable of describing the quantitative and qualitative performance of such systems and thus exergy efficiency is used so as to introduce the systems’ quality. In this work, the performance of a flat plate solar collector using water based nanofluids of different nanoparticle types as a working fluid is analyzed theoretically under the climatic conditions in Greece based on the First and Second Law of Thermodynamics. A mathematical model is built and the model equations are solved iteratively in a MATLAB code. The energy and exergy efficiencies as well as the collector losses coefficient for various parameters such as the inlet temperature, the particles concentration and type are determined. Moreover, a dynamic model is built so as to determine the performance of a flat plate collector working with nanofluids and the useful energy that can be stored in a water tank. The exergy destruction and exergy leakage are determined for a typical day in summer during which high temperatures and solar intensity values are common for the Greek climate.

Entropy Optimization in Nonlinear Mixed Convective Flow of Nanomaterials Through Porous Space

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tasawar Hayat ◽  
Ikram Ullah ◽  
Ahmad Alsaedi ◽  
Shaher Momani
Keyword(s):  
Convective Flow ◽  
Second Law Of Thermodynamics ◽  
Second Law ◽  
Porous Space ◽  
Arrhenius Activation Energy ◽  
Suction Parameter ◽  
Electrically Conducting ◽  
Entropy Optimization ◽  
Dimensionless Variables ◽  
Mixed Convective Flow

Abstract Our intention in this article is to investigate entropy optimization in nonlinear mixed convective unsteady magnetohydrodynamic flow of nanomaterials in porous space. An exponentially stretched sheet creates the liquid flow. Nanomaterial is considered electrically conducting. The concentration and energy expressions comprise viscous dissipation, Joule heating, thermophoresis and Brownian motion aspects. Arrhenius activation energy is considered. Computation of entropy generation based upon the second law of thermodynamics is made. Nonlinear partial expressions are obtained via suitable dimensionless variables. Resultant expressions are tackled by the OHAM technique. Features of numerous variables on entropy, temperature, velocity and concentration are graphically visualized. Skin friction and the temperature gradient at the surface are also elaborated. Comparative analysis is deliberated in tabulated form to validate the previously published outcomes. Velocity is reduced significantly via the suction parameter. The entropy rate increases for higher values of Brinkman, Biot and Hartmann numbers.

Supradegeneracy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-132
Author(s):  
Daniel P. Sheehan
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Statistical Mechanics ◽  
Population Inversion ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Second Law Of Thermodynamics ◽  
Second Law ◽  
Boltzmann Factor ◽  
Energy Currents ◽  
Non Equilibrium

AbstractCanonical statistical mechanics hinges on two quantities, i. e., state degeneracy and the Boltzmann factor, the latter of which usually dominates thermodynamic behaviors. A recently identified phenomenon (supradegeneracy) reverses this order of dominance and predicts effects for equilibrium that are normally associated with non-equilibrium, including population inversion and steady-state particle and energy currents. This study examines two thermodynamic paradoxes that arise from supradegeneracy and proposes laboratory experiments by which they might be resolved.

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