- #1
GeorgeWBush
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I understand the pedagogical concern that the idea of “disorder” should be discouraged when introducing entropy to new students (e.g. http://entropysite.oxy.edu/cracked_crutch.html).
But I also just read http://www.science20.com/train_thought/blog/entropy_not_disorder-75081" by Steve Donaldson which provides some examples showing that entropy and disorder are not the same thing.
I have questions about two of his examples:
That the entropy of a shuffled deck of cards is not different than an ordered deck.
That the entropy of a living person is greater than that of a dried up corpse.
In the example of the deck of cards: Isn’t it correct to say that the Gibbs entropy is the same but the Shannon entropy is greater in the shuffled deck?
In the example of a living person Vs a dried up corpse: isn’t it true that a living person has lower entropy than the same entire person dried up - including the 60% of his mass that is water (now dispersed into the environment)?
Also would it be correct to say that “entropy” exist independent of human thought whereas “disorder” is a cognitive perception. The same way that light at wavelength of 580nm is not the same thing as the color yellow? That entropy exists "in reality" and disorder exists "in our minds".
But I also just read http://www.science20.com/train_thought/blog/entropy_not_disorder-75081" by Steve Donaldson which provides some examples showing that entropy and disorder are not the same thing.
I have questions about two of his examples:
That the entropy of a shuffled deck of cards is not different than an ordered deck.
That the entropy of a living person is greater than that of a dried up corpse.
In the example of the deck of cards: Isn’t it correct to say that the Gibbs entropy is the same but the Shannon entropy is greater in the shuffled deck?
In the example of a living person Vs a dried up corpse: isn’t it true that a living person has lower entropy than the same entire person dried up - including the 60% of his mass that is water (now dispersed into the environment)?
Also would it be correct to say that “entropy” exist independent of human thought whereas “disorder” is a cognitive perception. The same way that light at wavelength of 580nm is not the same thing as the color yellow? That entropy exists "in reality" and disorder exists "in our minds".
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