Wasn't the universe more disordered in the past?

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In summary, at the early stages of the universe, when the temperature was much hotter, there was more chaos and disorder due to the constant collisions between molecules and particles. This aligns with the second law of thermodynamics, which states that things tend to become more chaotic over time. However, the quantities of temperature (T) and entropy (S) are different, and while mathematically it makes sense for dS/dt to be negative, it can be confusing to understand conceptually. Entropy is typically associated with disorder and chaos, but as the universe approaches absolute zero, it will actually become more uniform. This is because at the beginning of the universe, all forces were identical due to the extreme heat.
  • #1
zeromodz
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If the universe was hotter in the past, it was more chaotic and disordered with all the molecules and particles colliding with each other. How does this correspond to the second law of thermodynamics where things are supposed to get more chaotic as the time moves on, not backwards?
 
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  • #2
T and S are different quantities. Can you calculate dS/dt and show it is negative?
 
  • #3
Vanadium 50 said:
T and S are different quantities. Can you calculate dS/dt and show it is negative?

Yeah, mathematically what your saying makes sense. However, I don't understand it conceptually. Entropy is supposed to mean disorder and chaos. The future of the universe going to end with a whimper, not a bang. Its going to be anything but chaotic with the temperature becoming absolute zero.
 
  • #4
You are confusing temperature with entropy.
 
  • #5
First, the universe will never reach absolute zero, that violates the Uncertainty Principle. Second, at the early stages, the universe was far more uniform than it is today and will be in the future. At the beginning, it was so hot that even all of the forces were identical.
 

1. What is disorder in the context of the universe?

In the context of the universe, disorder refers to the amount of randomness or chaos present in a system. This can include the distribution of matter and energy, as well as the overall structure and organization of the universe.

2. Wasn't the universe more disordered in the past?

Yes, according to the Second Law of Thermodynamics, the universe was more disordered in the past. This law states that the total entropy (or disorder) of a closed system will always increase over time. Therefore, as the universe has evolved and expanded, it has become more disordered.

3. How does the Big Bang theory relate to the disorder of the universe?

The Big Bang theory, which explains the origins of the universe, also plays a role in the disorder of the universe. According to this theory, the universe began as a highly compact and ordered state, and has been increasing in disorder ever since.

4. Can disorder be decreased in the universe?

No, according to the Second Law of Thermodynamics, disorder can only increase in a closed system. This means that the universe as a whole will continue to become more disordered over time.

5. How does the concept of entropy relate to the disorder of the universe?

Entropy is a measure of the disorder of a system. The higher the entropy, the more disordered the system is. In the universe, entropy is constantly increasing, which means that the overall disorder of the universe is also increasing over time.

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