Is the universe really heading toward a state of total confusion (greater entropy)?

[Stealth1024]

2nd law of thermodynamics for all those people who have never explored chem or physics...

 

[DaveSimmons]

Confusion implies activity, while the logical end to entropy in an ever-expanding universe is cold, dark, dead stillness. In a cyclical universe we get the collapse and new big bang to start over fresh.

Since you're interested in this, I highly recommend Stephen Baxter's "Manifold Time" a ripping yarn based on astronomers' recent thinking on the subject (published in 2000).

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

I believe the problem with a cyclic universe, of which ours appears not to be, is that entropy may be conserved. If this is true, then each new universe has greater entropy at the start than the previous. Eventually, structure cannot be formed, and well, you get nothing.

 

[Stealth1024]

<P class=MsoNormal>Here are a collection of links that are very informative for your spare time reading enjoyment. The third link is especially comprehensive and discusses much more than just entropy?
<P class=MsoNormal>
<P class=MsoNormal>
Second Law of Thermodynamics - Does this basic law of nature prevent Evolution?
<P class=MsoNormal>http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-thermodynamics.html

<P class=MsoNormal>
<P class=MsoNormal>The Second Law of Thermodynamics in the Context of the Christian Faith
<P class=MsoNormal>http://members.aol.com/steamdoc/writings/thermo.html
<P class=MsoNormal>
<P class=MsoNormal>
Cosmic Absolutes (This one goes on and on forever and is one of the most interesting collection of articles I?ve read, especially with regard to the theory behind the math, be sure to click the next page links at the bottom)
<P class=MsoNormal>http://everythingforever.com/st_order.htm
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o></SPAN></FONT>

 

[Maleficus]

^^^ wtf?

 

[DaveSimmons]

<< I believe the problem with a cyclic universe, of which ours appears not to be, is that entropy may be conserved. If this is true, then each new universe has greater entropy at the start than the previous. Eventually, structure cannot be formed, and well, you get nothing. >>

So either way it's eventually cold, dark, and dead. Unless there's another "escape hatch" from entropy such as higher dimensions / parallel universes.

Or some spiritual force that's not bound by our laws of physics, for those with faith.

 

[DaveSimmons]

<< ^^^ wtf? >>

Someone forgot that this forum doesn't support HTML

 

[Spoooon]

<< ^^^ wtf? >>


It's happening before our very eyes! Chaos! :Q

 

[MustPost]

yes

 

[shiner]

Whenever life gets you down, Mrs. Brown,
And things seem hard or tough,
And people are stupid, obnoxious or daft,

And you feel that you've had quite eno-o-o-o-o-ough,

Just remember that you're standing on a planet that's evolving
And revolving at 900 miles an hour.
It's orbiting at 19 miles a second, so it's reckoned,
The sun that is the source of all our power.
Now the sun, and you and me, and all the stars that we can see,
Are moving at a million miles a day,
In the outer spiral arm, at 40,000 miles an hour,
Of a galaxy we call the Milky Way.

Our galaxy itself contains a hundred billion stars;
It's a hundred thousand light-years side to side;
It bulges in the middle sixteen thousand light-years thick,
But out by us it's just three thousand light-years wide.
We're thirty thousand light-years from Galactic Central Point,
We go 'round every two hundred million years;
And our galaxy itself is one of millions of billions
In this amazing and expanding universe.

Our universe itself keeps on expanding and expanding,
In all of the directions it can whiz;
As fast as it can go, at the speed of light, you know,
Twelve million miles a minute and that's the fastest speed there is.
So remember, when you're feeling very small and insecure,
How amazingly unlikely is your birth;
And pray that there's intelligent life somewhere out in space,
'Cause there's ah heck all down here on Earth!

 

[Wallydraigle]

<< Eventually, structure cannot be formed, and well, you get nothing. >>



That's good. That's really really good. I like closure.

 

[nirgis]

heh,

this isnt really an applicable poll such as "do you believe in god?"

entropy is a proven scientific concept. All processes move from lower to higher entropy because all chemical reactions do so (without intereferance)