Question

What is entropy and its physical significance?

Answer 1

1. Entropy is related to the thermodynamic system.
2. Entropy of the system can be determined by the degree of a disordered particle of the system.
3. This means an increase in entropy is possible when a system's particles acquire energy and became less ordered than before.
4. The physical significance of entropy can be understood with the help of an example as follows:

• When we heat a rod to a certain temperature then heat exchange occurs, this causes the movement of particles.
• Initially the particles of the rod were at their equilibrium state no motion can be observed, they are orderly arranged.
• After giving heat, the arrangement of the particles is disrupted and the particle starts moving and this creates disordered movement of particles.
• Thus, this leads to a higher degree of random motion of the particles, and in the end, the entropy of the system increases.
• This example shows the physical significance of entropy.