Entropy to never decrease in an isolated system

AI Thread Summary
Entropy in an isolated system is understood to never decrease, but local ordering can occur at the expense of increased entropy elsewhere. Molecules can self-assemble to lower interfacial energy, leading to local decreases in entropy, but this is balanced by greater entropy increases in the surrounding environment. The concept of a closed system must include all interacting particles to accurately assess entropy changes. For instance, when humans consume apples, they create order within themselves while the apple's structure becomes disordered, demonstrating energy transfer and entropy dynamics. Overall, local decreases in entropy do not violate the second law of thermodynamics when considering the entire system.
venomxx
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I considered entropy to never decrease in an isolated system, so I am a little confused when i read about how molecules 'self assemble' to lower interfacial energy which leads to an ordering of the system...

Is this ordering not a decrease in entropy violating the law that it always increases?

Im just a little confused, so if anyone can explain this id appreciate it!
 
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venomxx said:
Is this ordering not a decrease in entropy violating the law that it always increases?

Ordering decreases entropy for the thing that's being ordered, but it increases entropy elsewhere. You have to make sure that your 'closed system' includes ALL interacting particles etc.

Example, humans eat apples to order themselves by destroying the order of the apple. The apple became ordered by using energy from the sun etc.
 


It's not an isolated system.
 

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