Anti-matter and thermodynamics

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the interaction between matter and antimatter, specifically addressing whether their annihilation violates the laws of thermodynamics. Participants explore the implications of matter being destroyed and the creation/destruction of matter/antimatter pairs, with a focus on theoretical and conceptual understanding.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question how the annihilation of matter and antimatter could violate the laws of thermodynamics.
  • Others express curiosity about why the creation and destruction of matter/antimatter pairs does not constitute a violation of these laws, suggesting it may relate to energy conservation.
  • A participant asserts that there is no violation because energy is merely transformed rather than created or destroyed.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus, as there are differing views on whether the annihilation of matter and antimatter poses a challenge to thermodynamic laws.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about energy conservation and the nature of matter/antimatter interactions remain unexamined, and the discussion does not resolve the implications of these interactions on thermodynamic principles.

mecha10
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if a particle of matter and anit-matter collide they are annihilated.
Does this violate the laws of thermodynamics? Got to thinking about it while reading a brief history of the universe.
 
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In what way would it violate the laws of thermodynamics?
 
nicksauce said:
In what way would it violate the laws of thermodynamics?

Because it's matter being destroyed. I'm actually curious, too, if anyone cares to answer: why doesn't the creation/destruction of matter/antimatter pairs violate the laws of thermodynamics? I guess it might not change the overall amount of energy that exists...still, I don't really get what the deal is with those new matter/antimatter pairs.
 
ouch2112 said:
Because it's matter being destroyed. I'm actually curious, too, if anyone cares to answer: why doesn't the creation/destruction of matter/antimatter pairs violate the laws of thermodynamics? I guess it might not change the overall amount of energy that exists...still, I don't really get what the deal is with those new matter/antimatter pairs.

Welcome to PF. This is quite an old thread, posting on threads that no one has commented on for years isn't really desirable.

But to answer your question there is no violation because no energy is being created or destroyed, merely changed from one form to another.
 

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