Thread Closed

Relativistic version of 2nd law of thermodynamics

 
Share Thread Thread Tools
Mar30-09, 11:32 AM   #1
 

Relativistic version of 2nd law of thermodynamics


The classical version of that law includes a definition of a system and entropy increasing over time.

It uses a notion of simultaneousity - we compare a state of the whole system in different moments of time.

My questions:

1. Do you know any good SR-compatible generalizations of that law?
2. Are there any GR-compatible generalizations of that law which can deal with:
* systems is curved spacetime, where the direction arrow of time becomes more and more fuzzy.
* situations where no common (for the whole system) direction of time can be defined; for example, part of a system is orbiting a black hole while another part of it is falling inside;
* systems in closed timelike loops
 
PhysOrg.com
PhysOrg
science news on PhysOrg.com

>> 'Whodunnit' of Irish potato famine solved
>> The mammoth's lament: Study shows how cosmic impact sparked devastating climate change
>> Curiosity Mars rover drills second rock target
Mar30-09, 02:56 PM   #2
dx
 
Blog Entries: 1
Recognitions:
Gold Membership Gold Member
Homework Helper Homework Help
Entropy is a Lorentz invariant scalar, so the second law is compatible with special relativity. If entropy is increasing in one frame, it is increasing in all frames. See "Relativity, Thermodynamics and Cosmology" by Richard Tolman for a discussion of the extension of thermodynamics to special and general relativity.
 
Mar31-09, 02:37 AM   #3
 
Just a sec, you are talking about the infinitely small systems? so like if law is satisfied in every point of spacetime then it is satisfied globally? I would agree, but then the following quote from Wiki:

If black holes carried no entropy, it would be possible to violate the second law of thermodynamics by throwing mass into the black hole. The only way to satisfy the second law is to admit that the black holes have entropy whose increase more than compensates for the decrease of the entropy carried by the object that was swallowed.
does not make any sense because we just follow the falling object inside the hole - and for that obejct everything looks normal een when it passes thru the horizon.
 
Thread Closed
Thread Tools


Similar Threads for: Relativistic version of 2nd law of thermodynamics
Thread Forum Replies
Relativistic thermodynamics controversy? Special & General Relativity 12
Relativistic Thermodynamics Special & General Relativity 6
relativistic thermodynamics problem Special & General Relativity 1
Relativistic Thermodynamics Special & General Relativity 7
What is the special relativistic version of Snell's law? General Physics 0