Abhilash H N said:Entropy and gravity are two very different topics. Entropy is the measure of randomness of the system. In the question it says that "the ball does not automatically bounce up". The only other way is that the ball must hit the surface and 'stick to it' so that it can't bounce. Since entropy is about randomness, it must have meant that the 'sticking up of ball and Earth is nothing but the increase of randomness' (we must note that Earth and ball are two very different things!).
However if could just give the whole context/paragraph of it (means more details..), then the discussion might become more easier... :)
The ball has enough thermal energy to lift the ball against gravity. So it wouldn't violate Conservation of Energy (1st law of thermodynamics) if the ball would jump up on its own. But it would violate the 2nd law, and constitute a perpetual motion machine of the second kind:Avichal said:When reading about entropy it states that ball does not automatically bounce up because of entropy. It is just not favorable.
I don't get this. Isn't the correct reason gravity? Ball does not bounce up because of gravity! Where does entropy come from?
Avichal said:If the ball is left in air - it falls down. Well if it stays, it's neither violating law of conservation of energy nor second law of thermodynamics.
Of course you'll say it falls because of gravity. But I'm still confused - it doesn't violate any law!
Drakkith said:For it to stay in the air it would have to violate physics by not responding to the applied force of gravity. Note that something doesn't have to be called a law in order for it to be true.
Avichal said:Thanks, it makes sense now. Is the entropy gravity hypothesis a hot topic in physics? I am intrigued by the idea.
A ball does not bounce automatically because of the principle of entropy. Entropy is a measure of the disorder or randomness in a system, and it is always increasing. When a ball bounces, it loses energy to the surrounding environment in the form of heat, sound, and deformation. This energy loss increases the disorder of the system, making it less likely for the ball to bounce again.
Entropy is the measure of the disorder or randomness in a system. In the case of a bouncing ball, entropy is affected by the energy loss that occurs during the bouncing process. As the ball bounces, it loses energy in the form of heat, sound, and deformation, which increases the disorder of the system. This decrease in energy and increase in disorder makes it less likely for the ball to bounce again.
No, a ball cannot bounce forever because of the principle of entropy. As mentioned earlier, entropy is always increasing in a system, and a bouncing ball is no exception. With each bounce, the ball loses energy to the surrounding environment, increasing the disorder of the system and making it less likely to bounce again. Eventually, the ball will come to rest due to the continuous increase in entropy.
No, there is no way to prevent a ball from losing energy and bouncing forever. The principle of entropy is a fundamental law of nature, and it is impossible to reverse or stop this process. However, we can slow down the effects of entropy by reducing energy losses through methods such as using more elastic materials or reducing friction.
Besides entropy, other factors that can affect a ball's bounce include the material and shape of the ball, the surface it is bouncing on, and the force with which it is thrown or dropped. For example, a ball made of rubber will bounce higher than a ball made of clay due to its elasticity. Similarly, a ball will bounce higher on a hard surface compared to a soft surface. The force with which the ball is thrown or dropped also plays a role in its bounce, as a higher force will result in a higher bounce.