ode to geo

dU=T*dS -p*dV This is part of the first law of thermodynamics. ∆S(universe)>0. The second law of thermodynamics. S is entropy. Entropy is a measure of disorder. Energy is required to put things in order. For example, a gas is a bunch of molecules moving around in random order. There is not much order or entropy in a gas. However, if you compress that gas with enough pressure, and push the molecules together, they will arrange neatly into an order which turns the gas into a liquid. (That's the difference between a liquid and a gas. In a liquid the molecules are closer bound together, in a gas the molecules move around randomly) That pressure requires energy. So back to ∆S(universe)>0. Do you know what this means? It means that entropy will increase for ever. The particles in the universe will continue to become less ordered and will dissipate. Because dS=dq/T, it means that the universe will continue to transfer thermal energy, in the form of heat, into entropy. Thus, inevitably our universe will meet its fateful heat death. Don't worry, we won't be around long enough to see the actual heat death, though. We will have died long before that happens. It's all going to end in a cold, harsh, lonely death. So what does this life matter anyway? Well, don't worry. Two things make life worth living. First, since we may argue that the universe is infinite, this means that there is also infinte energy in the universe, so, even though dS=dq/T and ∆S(universe)>0, there will always be energy sufficient to perpetuate life. I was reminded of the second thing when I went to lunch and took a break from studying thermo.

That's right. Life is about awesome and cool, and who cares about thermodynamics when you can ride through town in a Geo Tracker.