How does life violate the 2nd law of thermodynamics?

AI Thread Summary
Life does not violate the 2nd law of thermodynamics, which states that entropy increases with energy transformations. While living systems may become more ordered and complex, they do so at the expense of increasing entropy in their surroundings. The processes of evolution and biochemical reactions contribute to this local decrease in entropy, but overall entropy in the universe still rises. The concept of "local violation" is essential to understanding how life operates within the framework of thermodynamics. Thus, life exemplifies the law rather than contradicts it.
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Homework Statement


How does life violate the 2nd law of thermodynamics?


Homework Equations


The 2nd law states that with ever energy transformation entropy increases.


The Attempt at a Solution


I am not sure where to begin with this. All I can think of is as we evolve our system becomes more orderly and complex and we carry out more reactions. but still the more reactions we do the more entropy is created in our surroundings and it becomes more disorderly...
 
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Life doesn't violate 2nd law, as you have correctly pointed out changes happen in our surroundings to compensate for the "local violation".
 
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