thermodynamics of life

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Amirsaman - 07 Mar 2004 16:02 GMT

Thermodynamically, life is defined to be a set of systems which are
held far from equilibium with their surroundings, and eventhough they
decrease the local entropy, by keeping their selves far from
equilibruim with the surroundings they actually further increase the
entropy of the universe. Now, I am wondering, is nature engineered in
a way as to MAXIMIZE this increase in entropy of the universe?

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Don Pearce - 07 Mar 2004 16:19 GMT

>Thermodynamically, life is defined to be a set of systems which are
>held far from equilibium with their surroundings, and eventhough they
>decrease the local entropy, by keeping their selves far from
>equilibruim with the surroundings they actually further increase the
>entropy of the universe. Now, I am wondering, is nature engineered in
>a way as to MAXIMIZE this increase in entropy of the universe?

Nature isn't engineered.

d

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http://www.pearce.uk.com

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Angelo Campanella - 07 Mar 2004 20:22 GMT

> Thermodynamically, life is defined to be a set of systems which are
> held far from equilibium with their surroundings, and eventhough they
> decrease the local entropy, by keeping their selves far from
> equilibruim with the surroundings they actually further increase the
> entropy of the universe. Now, I am wondering, is nature engineered in
> a way as to MAXIMIZE this increase in entropy of the universe?

    The tendency is always to increase entropy, and the reality is that in
many places, entropy is not at a maximum.
    I suppose you could say that life can be driven by entropy on its way
to being maximized. In that way, life depends on entropy being changed.
    Nature and life are one of the results that come from entropy
undergoing change. But changing entropy is no guarantee that life will
exist.
    The existence of entropy, or undescended entropy, is a necessary, but
not a sufficient condition for life to exist.

    Angelo Campanella

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"I have simply studied carefully whatever I've undertaken, and tried to
hold a reserve that would carry me through." - Charles A. Lindbergh.

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Nedeljko Zoric - 07 Mar 2004 22:50 GMT

> Thermodynamically, life is defined to be a set of systems which are held

far from equilibium with their surroundings, and eventhough they decrease
the local entropy, by keeping their selves far from

> equilibruim with the surroundings they actually further increase the

entropy of the universe. Now, I am wondering, is nature engineered in a way
as to MAXIMIZE this increase in entropy of the universe?

Somebody said: "That a life on Earth is pure example of fluctiations in
entropy of Universe...": more or less in this words... :))

I liked the thought and kept it in my memory...maybe You will do too!

Greetings

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Natural Science Forum / Physics / Acoustics / March 2004

thermodynamics of life