JustinRyan said:I am not sure prefer is the right word, but a system would tend toward equilibrium due to an imbalance of some kind. From a less to more stable state. The physical law involved will depend on the system in question.
sreerajt said:Say for example this:
why does a (electric/magnetic)dipole placed in external electric/magnetic field align itself parallel to the field. Why?
A system in lowest energy state refers to a physical or chemical system that has reached its most stable and energetically favorable state. This means that the system has the lowest possible energy and is unlikely to undergo any further changes on its own.
The lowest energy state for a system is determined by the laws of thermodynamics, specifically the second law which states that systems tend towards maximum entropy or disorder. In other words, the lowest energy state is the state with the highest level of stability and the least amount of energy available for work.
Studying systems in their lowest energy state allows us to understand the fundamental behavior of physical and chemical systems. It also helps us predict and control the behavior of systems, which is important for various applications in industries such as materials science and engineering.
While a system in lowest energy state is unlikely to undergo any spontaneous changes, it can be influenced by external factors such as temperature, pressure, or chemical reactions. These factors can cause the system to move away from its lowest energy state and towards a new equilibrium state.
A system can reach its lowest energy state through various processes, such as energy transfer, chemical reactions, or phase changes. These processes allow the system to release energy and decrease its overall energy level until it reaches its lowest energy state.